Media Exposure and Third-Person Perception: The Mediating Role of Social Realism and Proxy Efficacy

Authors

  • Xudong Liu Faculty of Humanities and Arts/ Macao University of Science and Technology
  • Ven-hwei Lo Department of Journalism/ Hong Kong Baptist University
  • Ran Wei School of Journalism & Communication/ The Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Xigen Li School of Journalism and Communication/ Shanghai University
  • Shengnan Pang School of Data and Computer Science/ Shandong Women’s University
  • Ruiyao Zhang School of Literature & Journalism/ Shandong University of Finance and Economics

Keywords:

COVID-19, media exposure, social realism, proxy efficacy, third-person perception, mediation effect

Abstract

This study examines the influences of media exposure, social realism, and proxy efficacy on the perceived effects of news about the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data collected from a sample of 1,190 college students in China, this study found that exposure to news about the pandemic is positively related to social realism and proxy efficacy. Furthermore, social realism and proxy efficacy were significantly correlated with third-person perception (TPP). Most importantly, the results of the study show that social realism and proxy efficacy also mediated the relationship between exposure to COVID-19 news and TPP.

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Published

2021-10-12

Issue

Vol. 15 (2021)

Section

Articles

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