Abstract

Media messages significantly impact many aspects of health. News and entertainment messages can shape how we see the world and influence our behavior. This chapter provides a thorough review of the literature. For each area, a brief discussion of the relevant scholarship on depictions is followed by evidence of media’s impact. Violence in the media, the rise of environmental concerns, body image, risky behaviors, and diversity in media and health are addressed. The chapter concludes with an overview of the influence of celebrities on health perception and behaviors, a discussion of entertainment-education, and a section on directions for future research.