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Media Exposure and Substance Use Increase during COVID-19
Ofer Amram1,2, Porismita Borah3, Deepika Kubsad4,5,6,7
1Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202, USA.
Summary
Increased media exposure, particularly social media and cable news, combined with low COVID-19 knowledge, significantly raised the risk of increased substance use during the pandemic. Media outlets should provide clear, positive information to mitigate negative impacts.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- COVID-19 lockdowns negatively impacted physical and mental health.
- Media exposure is a potential factor influencing health behaviors during pandemics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of media exposure on increased substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Main Methods:
- A national online survey of 1264 US adults was conducted.
- Logistic regression analyzed the association between substance use increase, media exposure (cable news, social media), and COVID-19 knowledge.
Main Results:
- High social media exposure and low COVID-19 knowledge correlated with a 9.9-fold increased risk of substance use.
- High cable news exposure and low COVID-19 knowledge correlated with an 11.6-fold increased risk of substance use.
Conclusions:
- Media organizations should reduce uncertainty and offer positive pandemic coverage.
- Targeted public health messaging may be crucial to mitigate negative health outcomes associated with media consumption during health crises.
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