The Power of Celebrity Health Events: Meta-analysis of the Relationship between Audience Involvement and Behavioral Intentions

Abstract

Audience involvement processes – such as parasocial interaction and identification – may impact an individual’s response to celebrity health events, yet to date, no synthesis of the literature exists. The present meta-analysis examined audience involvement processes and their influence on health behavior intentions in the context of celebrity health events. Fourteen studies (N = 5,718) met criteria and were analyzed using meta-analytic procedures. The weighted mean effect of the association between audience involvement and behavioral intentions was r = 0.20 (95% CI, 0.08–0.31, p <.001), indicating a statistically significant small-to-medium-sized positive association. Moderator analyses revealed that celebrity disclosures and events had greater effects than depictions of a media persona with a health condition; greater effects were also found for health behaviors not requiring a medical procedure. Our findings suggest that those who most feel a sense of attachment or affinity for a celebrity or media personae may be the ones who are most likely to modify their behavioral intentions in the wake of a celebrity health event. Results highlight the need for health practitioners to recognize the role of audience involvement in celebrity health events and to better assess how to harness these opportunities to promote healthy behaviors.