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Fostering Support for LGBTQ Youth? The Effects of A Gay Adolescent Media Portrayal on Young Viewers

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: This study used experimental methods to examine the effects of a media portrayal of two gay 13-year-old characters on young viewers’ attitudes toward LGBTQ people and issues by exploring the influence of gender identity and sexual orientation on viewers’ reactions. An online quasi-experiment of 469 participants, ages 13–21, revealed that gender identity and sexual orientation influenced viewers’ emotional involvement with the storyline and identification with the characters, which was associated with a change in attitudes. For LGBTQ youth, the story evoked hope and fostered positive attitudes; however, it tended to produce a boomerang effect among heterosexual/cisgender youth, eliciting the emotion of disgust and leading to significantly more negative attitudes toward LGBTQ people and issues.

Source: International journal of communication

Authors: Traci K. Gillig, Sheila T. Murphy

Institution: University of Southern California

Language: English

Topic: LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Gender equality

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California

OpenAlex ID: W2491359190

FWCI: 3.15

Cites: 58

Cited by: 36

Related to: 10