AATP Journals

“His fight or flight kicked in and here we are”: Investigating the construction of a perpetrator within a dark fandom. Dark fandoms are online communities of individuals who express fascination for perpetrators of violent crimes (cf. Broll, 2020). Much of the previous literature on these communities has studied school shootings fandoms. The present study sets out to expand the topic by investigating r/WattsOffTopic—a dark fandom that discusses the perpetrator of a family annihilation. A discourse analysis explored how community members construct the perpetrator, Chris Watts. It was found that community members often presented social media content created by his wife, Shannan Watts, as the prominent source of their knowledge. Posts focused on positive traits Chris Watts displayed prior to his crime and constructed him as a victim who was reacting to his situation. Following this assignment of victimhood, posts suggested that future crimes could be prevented by focusing on Shannan Watts’ behavior. The findings demonstrate how r/WattsOffTopic use social media sources to establish a shared narrative that reduces Chris Watt’s agency for the family annihilation. By presenting these sources as factual, r/WattsOffTopic strengthened their narrative and rejected other communities who did not share their viewpoint. These findings support existing literature suggesting that dark fandoms present themselves as objective and keen to prevent future crimes. The present study expands on the existing definition of dark fandoms by suggesting that some community members identify with Chris Watts by emphasizing individual similarities with the perpetrator. While explicit celebration was not apparent, the study proposes exploring the foregrounding of positive traits and shifting agency as potential forms of implicit celebration in dark fandoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Mon, 29 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Associations between intentions for affective social media content choices and depressive symptoms in adolescence: A cross-sectional investigation of media response styles as moderators. The central role of social media in adolescents’ lives and the concern regarding the well-being of these young media users has attracted much scholarly attention. While studies have generally examined relationships between the frequency of media use and well-being, more recent research has started to focus on the relationship between affective experiences with media use and adolescent well-being. The current study examined cross-sectional associations between intentions for mood-related affective social media content choices and depressive symptoms among Belgian adolescents (N = 157, 65.6% girls, M_age = 16.63, age range = 14–19 years). Additionally, we examined the moderating role of response styles to positive and negative affective media content. Results showed that intentions for affective mood-related social media content choices were generally not associated with the level of concurrent depressive symptoms in adolescents. A significant positive interaction effect was found for higher levels of media enhancing and happy social media content choices in a happy mood. Results consistently pointed toward direct associations between the media response styles and depressive symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Mon, 08 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Are you still watching? Antecedents and outcomes of binge-watching. Binge-watching is an increasingly popular way to consume media whose impact on users has been shown to be, at times, both positive and negative. Aiming to reconcile the discrepancies of prior research with a more holistic approach, the present study assesses the potential impact of binge-watching while taking into account both the viewer’s motivational antecedents (i.e., coping/escapism, emotional enhancement) and individual differences (i.e., transportability, self-control, sensation seeking). In a sample of 251 participants, these variables and their myriad pathways were analyzed through structural equation modeling and mediation analysis. Results show that binge-watching’s relationship with viewer well-being is contingent upon a complex array of associations between individual and motivational differences and the nature of one’s engagement in the activity. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed, as well as the limitations of the study and their ability to inform future research on binge-watching. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 06 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Perceptions of health changes and support for self-limiting social media use among young adults in Finland—A qualitative study. Despite increasing research attention given to problematic technology use, the perceptions of individuals who experience related issues remain largely unknown. In particular, qualitative insight into actual help-seekers’ experiences of problematic social media use, which currently holds a subdiagnostic status, is lacking. The present study responds to this research gap with an inductive content analysis of 11 semistructured interviews with young people in Finland—the most active local age group in social media use—who self-diagnose their use of social media as problematic and, as a consequence, have tried to self-limit their use and/or seek clinical help for their problems. Studies reveal numerous self-limiting strategies being applied, yet regaining control over one’s social media use is found to depend largely on dynamic factors in the environment as well as personal traits. In general, the participants perceived a lack of knowledge of the potential risks associated with social media use as the key challenge for improving their problematic behaviors. Nonetheless, the data remain limited and other age as well as culture groups may have different experiences. A better understanding of help-seekers’ evolving needs and problems should be pursued in diverse contexts, and the findings should be disseminated efficiently to facilitate the development of both self-help and professional support services. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 16 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

“I see dead people”: Exploring the associations between watching horror and belief in the paranormal. This study aimed to add a nuanced understanding of how viewing different subgenres of paranormal horror can cultivate beliefs in the paranormal. I collected cross-sectional survey data among 601 adults aged 18–56 (M = 24.06, SD = 4.16), with a relatively even gender distribution (40.6% males, 59.4% females). Using a linear regression model, I found that more frequent exposure to paranormal horror was related to paranormal beliefs, but only if the paranormal horror subgenre claimed to depict reality (i.e., based on true events reenactments and paranormal reality TV). Neither paranormal subgenres that did not include a truth claim (e.g., found footage) nor nonparanormal horror subgenres (e.g., slasher) were related to paranormal beliefs. I conclude that it is possible that truth claims lead viewers to process the depicted events as fact, instead of fiction, thus resulting in a shift in real-world beliefs. However, considering the cross-cultural nature of the data, it is also possible that those who already believe in the paranormal are more likely to seek out this content. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Ariel, Aurora, or Anna? Disney princess body size as a predictor of body esteem and gendered play in early childhood. This study explores the longitudinal effect of princess body size of children’s favorite Disney princesses on young children’s body esteem and gendered play over a 1-year period using a sample of 320 children, age 3½ at Time 1 and age 4½ at Time 2. Girls whose favorite princess had an average body size engaged in more masculine-type play a year later, but there were no associations between princesses’ body size and developmental outcomes for boys. Children whose favorite princess had an average body size showed a positive relationship between playing pretend princess and body esteem, masculine-type play, and feminine-type play. Children whose favorite princess was thin did not show a relationship between playing pretend princess and body esteem, masculine-type play, or feminine-type play. Our findings suggest that princesses with average body sizes create a protective context for children’s body esteem and may encourage both masculine- and feminine-type play by modeling both masculine and feminine activities and behaviors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 24 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Why lurk, why join, and why post? The uses and gratifications of lurkers, infrequent posters, and frequent posters in the brand community context. Although lurkers and posters have often been treated as two discrete groups in the literature, there is growing evidence that lurking and posting behavior within online communities is a continuum. If we continue to cluster users into only two groups, it will be doubtful that researchers will genuinely understand who they are or how they behave. Thus, the purpose of the current article was to explore lurking and posting within brand communities by separating members into three groups: lurkers, infrequent, and frequent posters—and then analyzing the motives for posting within online communities rather than the more commonly studied motives for joining or exploring an online community. A cross-sectional survey of Qualtrics panel members who were members of social media brand communities was conducted. Results indicated that infrequent posters significantly differ from pure lurkers and frequent posters. The three groups differ regarding information seeking, entertainment, self-discovery, social integration, and social enhancement motives. Furthermore, a study of the motives for posting within these online communities found differences between the three groups. Therefore, academic research needs to separate lurkers and posters into more than two groups to understand them truly. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 28 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Being asked to dance: Evidence of racial bias in audience voting behavior on the television show Strictly Come Dancing. Strictly Come Dancing is a celebrity dance competition and one of the most diverse programs on British television. Nonetheless, this current research investigated whether racial bias was detectable in the pattern of celebrity contestants who were repeatedly assigned to the “dance-off” due to low levels of audience support. This study used a preregistered, cross-sectional analysis strategy on public data about celebrity contestants in Seasons 10–19 of Strictly Come Dancing, their average scores for their dances, and the number of dance-offs to which they were assigned. Moderation analyses revealed a three-way interaction between celebrity race, professional dancer race, and average dance scores. The contestants most likely to be assigned to repeated dance-offs were racial minority celebrities who were paired with racial minority professional dancers and achieved high scores from the judges. Implications for media representation, diversity, and inclusion are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Exploring the association between Twitch use and well-being. Twitch is a leading platform for video game livestreaming, attracting over 2.5 million daily viewers. Despite the popularity of Twitch, few studies have investigated the psychological factors associated with Twitch use. This study explores the psychological antecedents and behavioral outcomes of healthy and problematic Twitch use. In Study 1, the Problematic Use of Twitch Scale was developed using a sample of 1,544 Twitch users (89.05% men; M_age = 25.36 years, SD = 6.42). The unidimensional, six-item scale yielded strong psychometric properties. According to latent profile analysis (LPA), 1.3% of Twitch users could be at risk of problematic use. In Studies 2 and 3, multiple structural equation models were tested on a sample of 525 Twitch users (81.33% men, M_age = 26.57 years, SD = 6.95; 4.8% at risk of problematic use). Results of Study 2 showed that problematic Twitch use was associated with psychological distress while frequent use was not. Maladaptive daydreaming and stronger need to belong also predicted problematic use. In Study 3, reciprocal contact with a favorite streamer predicted purchasing decisions on the platform. These findings indicate that intensive Twitch use, by itself, is not directly associated with psychological concerns. However, a small minority of excessive Twitch users experience mental health difficulties. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 20 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Time for digital media but no time for school? An investigation of displacement effects among adolescents of gen X, Y, and Z. Since the beginning of the digital age, there have been critical voices claiming that spending time with digital media might reduce time dedicated to school-related obligations, leading to detrimental effects on academic performance. However, findings on this topic are mixed and lack large-scale time-use data that allow the investigation of displacement effects from a long-term perspective. To address this research gap, we tested a Time-allocation Model of Media Use among 12- to 18-year-old students from three different media generations (Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z). The analysis relies on high-quality daily diary data (i.e., all existing data sets of the German Time-Use Survey) collected between 1991 and 2013 (N_1991/1992 = 1,310, N_2001/2002 = 1,329, N_2012/2013 = 1,274). The findings of the partial least squares structural equation modeling multigroup analysis demonstrate that free time availability is an important predictor of media choice. Moreover, although digital media use considerably increased over time, the effects on school-related obligation time remained largely stable and, most importantly, small. The study offers new insights into changes in media use and their effects on school-related obligation time across different generations from both a theoretical and empirical perspective. It is adaptable for future research, analyzing prospective media generations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 25 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Exercising empowerment: Mediated fitness technology fostered social connections and personal growth during social isolation. Sales of home exercise equipment skyrocketed due to the social restrictions imposed during the pandemic. The Peloton stationary bike, for example, received wide media coverage due to user testimonials about how using the bike positively impacted their mental health and personal growth. Based on self-determination theory (SDT) principles of autonomy, competence, and social connection, this study focused on immersive exercise’s relation to social connection in keeping with research linking perceptions of belonging to attitude and behavior change. This study hypothesized that Peloton’s social features would enhance social connection and predict change in personal growth perceptions. Measures included (a) equipment features categorized based on SDT, (b) kama muta (KM) using Kama Muta Multiplex Scale (KAMMUS) Two subscales to capture community belonging, (c) a parasocial interaction inventory to measure instructor attachment, and (d) subscales of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory to identify personal growth. A convenience sample of 1,036 Peloton users completed an online survey. Results indicated that Peloton use was associated with improved mental health, preference for social engagement features predicted KM, and KM explained 36% of the variation in personal growth. Findings suggest that technology-enabled experiences addressed social needs, increasing belonging during the pandemic and promoting personal growth. Results highlight virtual exercise’s potential for mental and physical health benefits and for technology-driven social cues to enhance user satisfaction and membership growth. Limitations are acknowledged. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Stop the stigma: TED Talk reduces negative attitudes about mental health treatment. Mental health stigma contributes to failure to seek professional psychological treatment, yet evidence suggests that video interventions may be effective in reducing such stigma. The current study hypothesized that a brief TED Talk on mental illness would result in more positive attitudes toward mental health treatment seeking compared to a control TED Talk. American adults (N = 141) were randomly assigned to video conditions and then were asked to evaluate the videos and provide a self-report of their attitudes toward seeking professional psychological treatment. It was found that, compared to the control video condition, the mental health video condition displayed more positive attitudes toward mental health treatment seeking. Exploratory analysis investigated the video factors related to these attitudes. These findings provide additional evidence that video interventions are effective in reducing stigma related to mental illness and that brief TED Talk videos may be a free, easy-to-access, and publicly available source for future interventions to reduce mental health stigma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Mon, 08 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Following up on #fitspiration: A comparative content analysis and thematic analysis of social media content aiming to inspire fitness from 2014 and 2021. Creating and sharing content that ostensibly inspires fitness remains a popular use of Instagram. This study aims to understand constructions of fitness motivation in Instagram posts labeled “#fitspiration” from 2021 and draw comparisons to posts from 2014. A data set of 1,000 posts (n = 790 after exclusion criteria applied) labeled #fitspiration was extracted in January 2021 and compared to an analysis of 1,000 posts extracted in January 2014 (n = 944 postexclusions; Deighton-Smith & Bell, 2018). Content analysis showed images mainly contained exercise-related content, people, and text. People were typically depicted in gendered and objectified ways, and adhered to sociocultural body ideals surrounding thinness and muscularity. While comparable with the 2014 data set, significantly more exercise images and significantly fewer diet images were found, along with fewer markers of objectification and thin and/or muscular bodies. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse text contained within images. Three themes were developed; (a) “Never miss a Monday”: Fitness and health have rules, (b) Just do it: Lifting the weight of self-doubt, and (c) Strive to be the best: Consequences of decision making. Like the 2014 data set, themes constructed thin and muscular bodies as the desired end-goal of fitness and emphasized personal responsibility for fitness practices. However, some messages from 2014 were less salient (e.g., equating fitness with sexual attractiveness) and different ways of motivating fitness were identified (e.g., through instruction). Combined, analyses highlight how #fitspiration content in 2021 was similar to 2014, but with more emphasis on exercise and slightly less on appearance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Feeling better or worse? Women’s social comparison to romantic ideal and challenge content. Scholars have suggested that individuals may compare their own romantic lives to the relationships they see in media, especially romantic comedy movies. That proposition was tested empirically in this experimental study. Adult women (n = 319) watched a romantic ideal (love conquers all), romantic challenge (couples argue), or control clip. Then they reported the extent to which the content made them feel social comparison emotions such as jealousy, hope, superiority, and worry as well as their level of satisfaction with their romantic lives and lives in general. Potential moderators including relationship status, preexposure satisfaction, attachment orientation, and social comparison tendency were also measured. Results indicated that the three conditions evoked social comparison emotions to varying degrees, and on the whole, the ideal condition elicited hope and superiority. No main effects on satisfaction were found. These results suggest that romantic ideal content evokes positive emotions, an effect that is moderated by some individual differences. Significant indirect effects were also found. Results are discussed in light of social comparison theory as well as other theories of media influence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 07 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Better than scrolling: Digital detox in the search for the ideal self. Many popular press articles promote the benefits of undergoing a digital detox for people who believe screen-based digital media is detrimental to their well-being. This qualitative study aimed to better understand the experiences of people who undertake digital detoxes. Semistructured interviews were conducted with five women and two men. Reflexive thematic analysis of the data generated two themes: (a) resisting temptation: the digital diet and (b) in search of the perfect self: actual versus ideal. The motivations to undertake a digital detox focus on a discrepancy between an individual’s ideal self and how they perceive themselves when using digital technology. Here, digital technology, especially smartphones and social media, is seen as a threat to values, self-regulation, and self-esteem. While the undertaking a digital detox is viewed as a way of reducing self-discrepancy, many people consider their digital technologies vital tools to manage their work and social lives. Individuals experiencing self-discrepancy may benefit from greater exposure to research articulating the benefits of digital technology to shift their perception of abstinence being ideal when some consumption is almost inevitable in modern life. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The additive effects of interactivity, immersion, and eudaimonia for stress reduction and mood management: A randomized controlled study on games and virtual reality. This study examines whether eudaimonic virtual reality (VR) games are more effective than hedonic VR games, hedonic desktop games, or noninteractive, nonimmersive videos for daily stress reduction and mood management. To test this, we recruited university participants (N = 202), and randomly assigned them to one of these four conditions. Results showed that eudaimonic VR gaming, hedonic VR gaming, and hedonic desktop gaming conditions were effective for inducing positive moods, and providing recovery experiences compared to a (desktop) video-watching control condition. However, eudaimonic VR game condition performed best in terms of reducing stress and alleviating negative affect. Therefore, in addition to providing positive experiences, eudaimonic VR games also show promise especially when players seek to decrease stress and regulate negative emotions. The overall pattern for the postplay stress scores was in decreasing order from noninteractive to interactive, from nonimmersive to immersive, and from nonmeaningful to meaningful conditions for stress and negative mood and in increasing order for recovery and positive mood. This provided support to the idea that the qualities of interactivity, immersion, and meaningfulness have additive effects, and might incrementally accumulate and contribute to stress reduction. Implications and suggestions are presented, and future work is discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Be positive? The interplay of Instagram influencers’ body type and favorable user comments on young women’s perceptions, affective well-being, and exercise intentions. Just as traditional media such as television or magazines, social networking sites are filled with thin-ideal appearances—fostering unattainable beauty standards and detrimental social comparisons among users. In recent years, the so-called body positivity movement has strived to counteract these effects and to promote the beauty of many different body shapes. While initial research connects body-positive content to very promising results, much less is known about the role of other users’ social approval for the impact of the respective posts and messages. Thus, an online experiment (N = 156) is presented that exposes participants either to a classic thin-ideal or a plus-size influencer, while also manipulating visible peer feedback (positive vs. no comments). The findings show that the post of the body-positive influencer indeed exerts more beneficial effects on participants’ state affect than the thin-ideal content, but no significant differences emerge in terms of actual–ideal self-discrepancy, social comparison processes, or exercise intentions. However, intriguing interaction effects highlight the particular role of peer comments: Only if comments were absent, body-positive posts decreased actual–ideal self-discrepancy and increased exercise intentions. Offering an interpretation of these unexpected findings, the potential role of appearance-related comments as prompts of self-objectification is considered, as well as the promises of body neutrality (instead of body positivity). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 05 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Queer on TV: Using the minority stress model to explore the role of LGBQ+ television exposure in LGBQ+ audiences’ psychological well-being and identity status. Compared to their heterosexual counterparts, sexual minority youth are disproportionally affected by suicidality, anxiety, depression, and other health disparities. The minority stress model claims that certain coping mechanisms such as receiving social support can act as a buffer against minority stress. In the current study, we tested whether LGBQ+ (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual) television exposure can effectively act within this role. Using a cross-sectional survey of sexual minority late adolescents (18–23 years old, N = 417), we found that LGBQ+ television exposure was not a significant moderator between minority stress and mental health outcomes. However, there were positive direct effects of LGBQ+ television exposure on resilience and identity affirmation. We provide tentative conclusions regarding the role of LGBQ+ television exposure on sexual minority youths’ identities and their propensity to persist in the face of adversity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Mon, 24 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Qualitative and quantitative investigations of Office fans’ connections with fictional and celebrity couples: Identification, parasocial relationships, and beyond. Though fans commonly view and follow fictional and celebrity couples, there is a dearth of research on audience involvement with media couples. Using a mixed-methods approach, we examined fan experiences with a fictional couple and actors’ real-life relationships vis-à-vis identification (psychological merging with media personae) and parasocial relationships (PSRs; one-sided relationships between fans and media personae). We recruited fans of The Office (US), emphasizing a central fictional couple, Jim and Pam, and the celebrity relationships of actors John Krasinski (Jim) and Jenna Fischer (Pam). In Study 1, we conducted semistructured qualitative interviews. Thematic analysis revealed that fans do not naturally differentiate between perspectives such as identification and PSRs. Fans struggle to separate the character from the actor in ways that color how they see the actor’s spouse; some think that other fans struggle with this more than they do, the latter being a third-person effect. In survey Studies 2 and 3, we demonstrated that fans identify with and form PSRs with a couple as a unit. Both greater couple identification and couple PSRs predicted greater parasocial relationship investment in Jim/Pam. Greater couple PSRs with Jim/Pam, but not greater couple identification, predicted greater discomfort with the celebrity relationship of John Krasinski and his wife, actor Emily Blunt. Furthermore, Studies 2 and 3 provide quantitative evidence for a unique instantiation of the third-person effect related to real and fictional couples. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 08 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Social media use and body image concerns for midlife and older women. Social media, which functions as a transmitter of sociocultural ideals defining constructs such as beauty and thinness, has been shown to negatively impact the body image of girls and young women. Because there has been a lack of research on whether this impact extends beyond young populations, this convergent mixed methods study investigated the impact of social media use on the body image of midlife women and older women. The results of this study indicated that social media use negatively impacts the body image of midlife and older women and demonstrated the complexity of age as a mediating factor for body image concerns in older women. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 14 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Fitspiration, related risks, and coping strategies: Recent trends and future directions. This review presents an overview of recent trends in fitspiration, with a particular focus on its associated risks and potential tackling interventions. First, it was found that fitspiration is positively related to behavioral distortion (e.g., eating disorder and excessive exercise), cognitive distortion (e.g., body dissatisfaction and self-objectification), and negative emotion and mental health. Second, various interventions (e.g., social media literacy programs) have been explored or implemented to tackle the adverse effects brought by fitspiration. Third, although a significant volume of research is emerging that investigates fitspiration and its related risks and coping strategies, the research landscape is far from diverse and inclusive. Recommendations for future research are offered to encourage intercultural perspectives, gender, and age inclusion, and more qualitative and speculative research design. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A content analysis method for coding movie content using movie trailers. The study of motion pictures and their influence on audiences has long been part of media research. Yet, content analyzing movies can be both cost- and time-prohibitive. The current study presents a method for using movie trailers as a proxy for movie content by focusing on firearm appearances and use. Results show that the coding scheme devised for gun appearances was highly reliable, and, more importantly, this approach showed considerable agreement between movies and trailers. This coding approach holds promise for other media researchers who would like to find time/cost-effective ways to content analyze movies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 07 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Into the purple ocean: The formation and dynamics of a transcultural fandom as a result of cultural diffusion through K-pop. Within the context of cultural exchange, research into the impact of Korean pop (K-pop) music and its idols largely focuses on their marketability rather than the psychological effects this exchange may have on their fandom. The aim of this research, therefore, is to investigate the formation and dynamics of a transcultural fandom as a result of cultural diffusion through K-pop through the relationship between Bangtan Sonyeondan (a K-pop group) and their fandom, Adorable Representative Master of Ceremonies for Youth (ARMY). Through this research we hope to examine the formation of a new transcultural fandom “in-group” as a function of cultural diffusion, as well as the role of the idol in this process. A quantitative design was employed, consisting of a cross-sectional survey with 116 participants completing measures of identification with all of humanity, universal values, online group identification, knowledge of in-group norms, and remote acculturation levels. Results revealed that stronger identification with the in-group, ARMY, was a significant predictor of ability to detect and use in-group cues to predict target identities successfully, increased remote acculturation, and increased identification with all of humanity. Overall, the research provides insights into the relationships between idol and fan, the levels of remote acculturation experienced by ARMY, and the subsequent identities that are constructed within the new transcultural context of their global community. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Mon, 22 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Testing the direct and indirect relationship between media violence exposure and cyberbullying perpetration. A recent burgeoning of research has examined the relationship between media violence exposure and cyberbullying perpetration. Some findings indicate the relationship between these two variables is best explained with a direct effect; whereas other findings indicate an indirect effect through aggression-related constructs best describes this relationship. No published study that we are aware of has pitted the direct and indirect hypotheses against each other, which is the purpose of the current study. Participants (N = 129 U.S. emerging adults) completed questionnaires to measure media violence, cyberbullying perpetration, trait physical and verbal aggression, normative aggressive beliefs, and aggressive attitudes. Results showed support for the indirect effect, by demonstrating (a) the significant correlation between media violence and cyberbullying was rendered nonsignificant while controlling for aggression variables and (b) the indirect effect was significant when controlling for the intercorrelations between the media violence and aggression variables. Overall, the results suggest an indirect effect better explains the relationship between media violence exposure and cyberbullying perpetration. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
View Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT