Could Watching TV Be Good for You? Examining How Media Consumption Patterns Relate to Salivary Cortisol. Issue 11 (1st November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nabi, Robin L.; Prestin, Abby; So, Jiyeon
• Is Part Of: Health communication. Volume 31:Issue 11(2016)
• Page Start: 1345
• Page End: 1355
• Publication Date: 2016-11-01
• Subjects: Communication in medicine -- Periodicals; Health in mass media -- Periodicals; 362.1014
• DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2015.1061309
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1041-0236

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This research explores whether media diet influences health, not through its effects on cognition and behavior but rather through its effects on biomarkers of stress, which are implicated in a host of acute and chronic illnesses. Two hundred and forty young adults completed assessments of their media consumption habits followed at least 2 days later by measures of the stress-related hormone cortisol. Results suggest that frequency of consuming different media and genres may decrease cortisol under certain conditions and increase them under others. Further, the patterns of results were wholly different from those found for perceived stress. The implications of these findings for health-related media effects and theoretical development are discussed.