Media Influence and Health

Scholars working at the intersection of narrative theory and health communication examine how stories shape what people believe, feel, and ultimately do about their wellbeing—tracing mechanisms such as transportation, the sense of being absorbed into a narrative world, and identification with characters whose choices mirror or challenge our own. The underlying premise is that fiction and entertainment are not merely diversions but active sites where attitudes toward diet, medical treatment, mental health, and risk behavior are quietly negotiated. Researchers debate why some narratives produce lasting change while others leave audiences unmoved, with current attention turning to the roles of awe, parasocial connection, and the subtle interplay between enjoyment and persuasion. Open questions include how to design entertainment-education content that works across cultural contexts and how to measure the long gap between a story's emotional impact and any real-world behavioral shift that follows.

Works

38,316

Total citations

500,848

Keywords

Narrative PersuasionTransportationIdentificationEmotionEntertainment-EducationAwe