Beyond Materialism: The Role of Health-Related Beliefs in the Relationship Between Television Viewing and Life Satisfaction Among College Students

Abstract

Prior research has typically focused on materialism and the perceptions of general others' affluence to explain the link between television viewing and life satisfaction. This study extends our understanding of such a relationship by demonstrating the mediation of health-related perceptions. Surveys were administered to 274 college students at a large southeastern university, and the data were subjected to path analyses. Results reveal that overall television viewing was associated with viewers' perceptions of others' health risks and of personal health risks; in turn, these perceptions significantly related to life satisfaction. Further, overall television viewing was indirectly associated with perception of self-efficacy in maintaining personal health, which in turn reduced life satisfaction. These results indicate that health-related perceptions help establish the association between television viewing and life satisfaction. Theoretical and practical implications of this study are discussed.

Notes

Note. *p < .05; **p < .01, two-tailed.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yinjiao Ye

Yinjiao Ye (Ph.D., University of Alabama, 2006) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at University of Rhode Island. Her research interests include health communication and advertising.