Risk propensity, news frames and immigration attitudes

Author(s)
Hajo Boomgaarden, Anita Gottlob
Abstract

Migration has become increasingly discussed as intangible and uncontrollable and hence as a risk to receiving societies. In the past years, strong public concern and negative attitudes toward immigration have been seen across European countries. The mass media are oftentimes suggested to contribute to such concerns. But mediated risks of immigration do not affect all citizens to an equal extent. This study considers the relationship between information about migration as found in mass media and immigration attitudes as a function of individuals’ risk propensity. Our results suggest that tangible risk frames have an effect on immigration attitudes, while abstract risks do not. Tangible risks are statistically not likely to be personally experienced by most people. Yet, they are often framed as having the potential to negatively impact a person’s community or well-being. Risk propensity played no role in moderating such effects.

Organisation(s)
Department of Communication
Journal
International Journal of Communication
Volume
16
Pages
2174-2197
No. of pages
24
ISSN
1932-8036
Publication date
2022
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
508007 Communication science
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/risk-propensity-news-frames-and-immigration-attitudes(33bed34a-281d-4ad1-acf0-d2390bb87cdf).html