Australians' perceptions about health risks associated with climate change: exploring the role of media in a comprehensive climate change risk perception model

Jagadish Thaker, Lucy M. Richardson, David C. Holmes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We advance a recent comprehensive model of climate change risk perceptions by investigating the role of media in shaping individuals’ health risk perceptions. Results from a national survey in Australia (n = 1023) show that perceived health risks associated with climate change are related but distinct from perceived harm to self and society as measured in previous risk perception studies. Moreover, the full model explains 47% variance in health risks and 74% in perceived harm; While experiential processes (21%) account for about half of the variance in health risks, cognitive factors explain the largest share of variance in perceived harm (32%). Media processes explain a 10% variance in health risks and a 14% variance in perceived harm. News interest and media exposure to extreme weather events are significant to understand public health risks and harm perceptions, even after accounting for several other socio-demographic, cognitive, experiential, and socio-cultural factors. Findings support a conditional media effects model. Media can, directly and indirectly, affect public health risk perceptions by providing vicarious experience opportunities and information that Australians are looking for in the media about climate change.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102064
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Environmental Psychology
Volume89
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2023

Keywords

  • Australia
  • CCRPM
  • Climate change
  • Experiential processes
  • Health risks
  • Media exposure
  • News interest

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