Trust and Coping Beliefs Contribute to Racial Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Intention

Racial disparities in intention to obtain the COVID-19 vaccination have been noted in academic and popular press reports. The present study sought to identify cognitive and affective factors that contribute to the observed lack of acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination, even before a vaccine was made publicly available, among Black and White Americans through a national survey (N = 487; 50.6% female, 24.8% Black). Our findings are consistent with previous studies that Black respondents had lower intention to obtain the eventual COVID-19 vaccine than White respondents. Protection motivation theory\u27s construct of coping efficacy and an additional COVID-19-relevant variable, trust in vaccination, mediated the effect of race on behavioral intention. Lastly, beliefs were elicited from Black and White Americans to identify communication strategies regarding the issue

Cultivating Adulthood Prejudice toward Black Americans and Low-Income Individuals through Childhood Social Media Use: A Retrospective Approach

Previous research has linked lifetime media use with intergroup prejudice. Our studies extend previous findings by linking current intergroup prejudice (race, social class) with retrospectively reported media use in specific life stages (childhood, adolescence, adulthood). Across two surveys (n = 293; n = 369), we found childhood social media use, but not adolescence or adulthood social media use, significantly predicted participants’ current prejudicial attitudes toward Black individuals and low-income individuals, mediated through social dominance orientation. Additionally, overall lifetime social media use was associated with positive and negative racial attitudes through social dominance orientation. However, findings with lifetime TV use were mixed. Neither of indirect effects between overall lifetime TV use, social dominance orientation, and racial attitudes (or income egalitarianism) was statistically significant. Further, neither of these indirect effects with TV use in specific life stages was significant. Overall, the present findings call for attention on contemporary media in addition to traditional media in cultivation research

Lifetime Television Use Influences Racial Prejudice Through Cultivating Implicit Norms: Differed Effects Across Three Life Stages

The present study investigated the role of lifetime television (TV) use and TV use across life stages (i.e., childhood, adolescence, adulthood) on racial attitudes. In a young adult sample (N = 268), lifetime TV use was not associated with racial attitudes either directly or indirectly. However, when testing the effects of TV use across specific life stages, TV use during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood were each indirectly associated with current racial attitudes through implicitly measured norms and motivation to avoid racism. Overall, childhood and adulthood TV use was associated with stronger racism whereas adolescence TV use was associated with weaker racism. Directions for future research are discussed