ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4228-0739

Date of Award

2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA in Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Elizabeth Brondolo

Second Advisor

Robin Wellington

Abstract

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.

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