MEDIA EXPOSURE AND EFFECTS ON SOCIAL COGNITIONS

The media, which is comprised of mass media and social media (Bennett, 1982; Carr & Hayes, 2015), is a powerful tool that reflects as well as change’s public opinion and social cognitions (Fan & Pedrycz, 2017; Bandura, 2002). Research posits that Black and Latino individuals are more likely to be portrayed negatively in the media (Dixon, Weeks & Smith, 2019; Dixon et al., 2003; Dixon & Linz, 2000; Dixon, 2017). Thus, media exposures can cultivate real-world stereotypical views of individuals within these ethnic/racial groups (Haft & Zhou, 2021; Han & Budarick, 2018) and shapes individual’s self-view (Tsfati, 2007). White individuals, on the other hand, are more socialized to be colorblind to matters of race and may have greater self-presentational concerns with appearing racist (Bloch, Taylor & Martinez, 2019; Miller, O’Dea & Saucier, 2021). The current study expands on prior research by analyzing whether race-related media coverage would predict perceptions of discrimination, depression, and stereotype confirmation concerns within Black, White, and Latino participants. Participants were 156 individuals (46% Black; M age = 39.38 years) who were surveyed in a local community hospital waiting room or through email contact in Queens, NY from January to April 2018. Results found that the number of race-related stories was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms among Black participants and stereotype confirmation concerns among Latino/a participants. For White participants, on the other hand, the frequency of race-related stories was positively associated with stereotype confirmation concerns. Findings highlight the importance of additional research for a clearer understanding of media’s effects on psychological well-being of all people