The Disparate Prosocial Implications of Ongoing Entertainment Health Media Exposure: A Multi-Malady Stigma Communication Comparison

Entertainment media is observed to influence perceptions toward those managing major health conditions. In this study, a U.S. representative sample Qualtrics survey (N = 599) is conducted to how routine exposure to illnesses of notable public health concern is comparatively associated with potentially disparate mediated contact outcomes on stereotype content model and reasoned-action approach-related social perceptions and inclinations. Supporting mediated contact premises, evidence suggests largely prosocial outcomes related to routine entertainment health media exposure (e.g. enhanced attitudes, warmth, and social distance perceptions), though health identities stereotypically linked with stigma communication cues (e.g. peril, etiology) were least associated with prosocial attributions.