Media Narratives About Concussions: Effects on Parents’ Intention to Inform Their Children About Concussions

Abstract

This study examined the effects of media narratives about concussions on parent’s intentions to inform their children about concussions. A randomized experiment of 600 parents whose children play football in middle school or high school were presented with one of the five narrative conditions or the control condition (where parents read a brochure). Results indicate that parents who read the narrative shared from the perspective of a high school football player, a parent, a coach, and a Center for Disease Control and Prevention researcher induced negative emotions, and those exposed to the narratives from the perspective of a high school football player and a parent also experienced a sense of identification and thereby reduced counterargument. Negative emotions and a reduced counterargument influenced intentions of these parents to inform their children of the dangers and risks of playing football and prompted them to read information on sports-related concussions. The results of this study have implications for communities and organizations seeking to motivate parents to engage in informative conversations with their children about the dangers and risks associated with playing football including concussions.