Attention to the media and worry over becoming infected: the case of the Swine Flu (H1N1) Epidemic of 2009

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between attention to the mass media and concern about becoming infected with H1N1 in two nationwide random samples interviewed during the flu epidemic of 2009. The first sample (N = 1004) was taken at the end of the first wave of the outbreak in the US and the second sample (N = 1006) was taken as the second wave was accelerating. The data were gathered by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. Over the period studied, the percentage worried about becoming infected increased in almost all social categories of respondents. With social category controlled, both those who followed the H1N1 outbreak closely and those who were more interested in reports about it were more likely to be worried about becoming infected. As time went on, interest in media reports declined, but worry over infection continued to increase. Our findings imply that despite the decrease in the percentage of the population expressing interest and following the news, media exposure was the most important factor as it explained the likelihood of being concerned about the possibility of infection.

Risk society online: Zika virus, social media and distrust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

“…(Davis et al 2014:516). Alternatively, a sense of risk for infection in the United States actually increased with media exposure to reports on swine flu in 2009 (Mesch et al 2013), even after media had decreased reporting on the illness.…”

“…As a result, recent research on the social construction of EIDs and pandemics has focused on the perception (Chien 2013) and social construction of EIDs by governmental and public health agencies (French and Mykhalovskiy 2013, Gislason 2013, McCormick and Whitney 2013 and scientific journals (Nerlich and Halliday 2007). Other work has considered affective public response, including widespread fear over becoming infected with H1N1 during the 2009 swine flu pandemic (Mesch et al 2013), why the general public may not panic over the possibility of becoming infected with H1N1 (Sherlaw and Raude 2013), and the role of 'othering' in constructing the likelihood of contracting swine flu (Joffe 2011). Sociological work has also considered mass media contribution to social construction of EIDs like 'bird' flu and Ebola virus (Joffe and Haarhoff 2002, Mesch et al 2013, Sherlaw and Raude 2013, Ungar 1998.…”

“…Other work has considered affective public response, including widespread fear over becoming infected with H1N1 during the 2009 swine flu pandemic (Mesch et al 2013), why the general public may not panic over the possibility of becoming infected with H1N1 (Sherlaw and Raude 2013), and the role of 'othering' in constructing the likelihood of contracting swine flu (Joffe 2011). Sociological work has also considered mass media contribution to social construction of EIDs like 'bird' flu and Ebola virus (Joffe and Haarhoff 2002, Mesch et al 2013, Sherlaw and Raude 2013, Ungar 1998.…”

¿Cómo informaron los medios de comunicación sobre la influenza AH1N1 en Perú?

“…Desde la perspectiva de la economía política crítica (2) , se menciona que "Los medios comerciales no buscan la producción de mensajes con contenidos sociales o culturales, sino que se centra en aquellas que resultan más sensacionalistas, superfluas o perjudiciales". En este sentido, algunos estudios, muestran que las noticias alarmistas difundidas por la prensa podrían haber, por ejemplo, incrementado el uso de antibióticos en la población mayor de 16 años en Francia, o haber incrementado la preocupación por la posibilidad de infectarse durante la última pandemia (3,4) .…”

“…Si bien es cierto estamos en etapa pospandémica, el virus de la influenza continua circulando y es notificado por los servicios de salud a los sistemas de vigilancia centinela de influenza del país (5) . La presencia de este virus sigue generando preocupación en la población, la cual es alimentada por la frecuencia e intensidad de la difusión de noticias relacionadas con esta enfermedad (4,6) .…”