A dual examination of content and effects: News media representations of autism spectrum disorder and the effects of attributions on community members' supportive or discriminatory feelings, behavioral intentions, and behaviors toward the disability

The media has the ability to influence societal perceptions about important issues. This study involved a dual examination of content and effects of news media representations of a prominent health issue---autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that now affects 1 in 88 individuals (CDC, 2013). Study 1 examined the presence of attributions of ASD and signaling "stigma" cues in news media and Study 2 investigated the effects of attributions of ASD emphasized in news media on community members' emotions, behavioral intentions, and behaviors toward the disability. Study 1 revealed associations between certain attributions and signaling "stigma" cues and indicated news circulation plays a role in the appearance of cause attributions and social skill deficit cues. The results also illuminated intriguing trends in the presence of certain attributions of ASD and signaling "stigma" cues in news media over the past 16 years. Study 2 shed light on the direct and indirect effects of attributions about ASD emphasized in news stories on community members' emotions, behavioral intentions, and actual behaviors; these findings partially align with attribution theory. This research provides a holistic understanding about the presence and power of language emphasized in news stories about ASD. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.