Risky behaviours also more likely among those who trust Fox News more than CNN
Viewer preference for right-wing US TV media is linked to significantly fewer preventive measures against COVID-19 and behaviours likely to increase the risk of infection, finds research published in the online journal BMJ Global Health.
The media has a key role in disseminating health information. And to better understand the relationship between political bias in the media and health behaviours, the researchers wanted to find out if behaviours related to COVID-19 differed according to viewer trust in left-or right-wing TV media and whether these behaviours changed over time.
They drew on data from the Understanding America Study (UAS) COVID-19 Survey National Sample. This is an ongoing longitudinal national online survey of approximately 9000 US adults living independently.
UAS started tracking the impact of the pandemic on 10 March 2020. Follow-up surveys were issued every fortnight beginning 1 April 2020 (wave 2) to June 9 (wave 6).
Participants were asked about preventive behaviours over the past 7 days, such as hand-washing and use of face coverings, and about risky behaviours, including going out to a bar or club, attending gatherings of more than 10 people, and visiting other people's homes.
