More than Just Words on a Screen: A Biopsychosocial Approach to Understanding Effects of Race-Related Media

Racial disparities in physical and mental health are ongoing and well-documented problems in the United States. Black Americans, compared to White Americans, have higher risk of obesity, heart disease, cancer, depression, and substance abuse. Research suggests prejudice and discrimination play a role in racial health disparities. Everyday discrimination is considered a chronic, psychosocial stressor that impacts the health of Black Americans. A biopsychosocial approach states there are various factors that contribute to the pathway from discrimination to disease and proposes complex relationships that explain effects of racial discrimination on health. The current study examined social factors (race-related media), biological factors (cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA]), and psychological factors (individual differences) in order to understand the interplay of multiple pathways from discrimination to disease. Participants (N = 48) completed an online questionnaire that assessed individual difference variables and experiences with race-related media. Then participants completed an in-lab study that measured baseline levels of cortisol and DHEA, and finally, participants completed a three day at-home longitudinal portion to assess the diurnal rhythms of cortisol and DHEA and daily exposure to positive and negative race-related media. Contrary to hypotheses, results indicated that baseline levels of cortisol and DHEA were significantly correlated among participants with frequent exposure to negative race-related media, but not among participants with frequent exposure to positive race-related media. Further, cortisol and DHEA diurnal slopes were significantly correlated and the cortisol and DHEA awakening responses were significantly correlated among both participants reporting frequent exposure to negative race-related media and among participants reporting frequent exposure to positive race-related media. Results also indicated trait levels of optimism, perceived control, and racial identity may be protective factors against daily race-related stress from media. However, results indicated there were no differences in biological outcomes (cortisol and DEHA diurnal rhythms) between the two groups, but that participants reporting frequent daily exposure to negative race-related media had less daily positive affect than those reporting frequent daily exposure to positive race-related media. Results suggest negative race-related media may be a source of stress for Black Americans, thus contributing to racial health disparities

Do Narcissists Enjoy Visiting Social Networking Sites? It Depends on How Adaptive They Are

Previous evidence suggests that narcissistic people tend to visit social networking sites (SNS) frequently, but the emotions accompanying their engagement on such sites has not been a significant subject of study. Therefore, we examined the relationship between narcissism and the affective experience on SNS in two different samples. To do so, we not only examined narcissism as a whole but also distinguished between adaptive and maladaptive narcissism. Results of the two studies consistently showed that: (1) narcissism as a whole was not correlated with the SNS affective experience; (2) maladaptive narcissism was predictive of a worse affective experience on SNS; and (3) partly due to a positive correlation with self-esteem, adaptive narcissism was associated with a better SNS affective experience. In addition, these findings held with SNS activities considered in simultaneity. The present research extends our understanding of the relationship between narcissism and social networking as well as that between emotion and social networking

Disinformation and credibility in the digital ecosystem: proceedings of the XII International Conference on Online Journalism

469p.Gureiker . Euskal Unibertsitate Sistemako Ikerketa-Taldea (A) (IT 1112-16). Grupo de Investigación del Sistema Universitario Vasco (A) (IT 1112-16). Research Group of the Basque University System (A) (IT 1112-16). Proyecto I+D «Noticias, redes y usuarios en el sistema híbrido de medios» (2019/2021) RTI2018-095775-B-C41, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO). Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER

Disinformation and credibility in the digital ecosystem: proceedings of the XII International Conference on Online Journalism

469p.Gureiker . Euskal Unibertsitate Sistemako Ikerketa-Taldea (A) (IT 1112-16). Grupo de Investigación del Sistema Universitario Vasco (A) (IT 1112-16). Research Group of the Basque University System (A) (IT 1112-16). Proyecto I+D «Noticias, redes y usuarios en el sistema híbrido de medios» (2019/2021) RTI2018-095775-B-C41, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO). Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER