3,975
Views
62
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
ARTICLES

Sports Celebrities and Public Health: Diego Maradona's Influence on Drug Use Prevention

&
Pages 358-373 | Published online: 21 Jun 2010
 

Abstract

Exposure to a sports celebrity through media and sporting events can have important influences on a public health issue associated with that celebrity. The battle against drug use by Argentinean soccer icon Diego Maradona has provoked concerns about drug abuse and prevention in Argentina, particularly among young people. The present study analyzes how two forms of involvement with Maradona affected the public's concern and perceptions of drug use after Maradona's drug-related health crisis in 2004. Results indicate that those who had a greater degree of parasocial interaction with Maradona were more likely to have an increased awareness of drug abuse, a greater personal concern about drug abuse, abstained from drug use, and more strongly support drug abuse prevention programs. In contrast, identification with Maradona had a mitigating effect on drug use prevention. Implications of these findings regarding the influence of sports celebrities on substance abuse are discussed.

Notes

Note: SME = selective media exposure, PSI = parasocial interaction, ID = identification, Awareness = awareness of drug use risk, Concern = personal concern about drug use, Abstinence = abstaining from drug use, Prevention = support of drug abuse prevention programs.

N = 360; *p < .05; **p < .01.

SME = selective media exposure, PSI = parasocial interaction, Awareness = awareness of drug use risk, Concern = personal concern about drug use, Abstinence = abstaining from drug use, Prevention = support of drug abuse prevention programs.

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 53.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 215.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.