Adolescents’ Differential Susceptibility to the Influence of Soap Opera Viewing on Alcohol Attitudes

• In Event: Finding Myself, for Better or Worse: Adolescents and Media

Abstract

Previous research found support for an association between exposure to alcohol-related media content and alcohol attitudes, intentions and behavior. Nevertheless, research on what makes young people susceptible to the occurrence of this relationship is scarce. The current study examined the behavioral activation (BAS) and inhibition system (BIS) as moderators of the relationship between soap opera viewing and alcohol attitudes. Previous research showed associations between both systems and risk behavior. A cross-sectional survey was carried out among a sample of 922 adolescents (Mage=14.96 years, SD=.85, 56% girls). Regression analyses showed that soap opera viewing is associated with positive attitudes towards alcohol use. Additionally, moderation analyses indicated that BAS did not moderate this relationship. In contrast, BIS acted as a moderator of this relationship and showed the relationship between soap opera viewing and positive alcohol attitudes was only significant for adolescents with a low BIS-profile.

Authors

• Jolien Vangeel, U of Leuven

• Kathleen Beullens, U of Leuven - School for Mass Communication Research

• Lien Goossens, Ghent U

• Leentje Vervoort, Ghent U

• Wendy Van Lippevelde, Ghent U

• Nathalie De Cock, Ghent U

• Steven Eggermont, U of Leuven - School for Mass Communication Research