What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine how empathic responses to Paralympic athlete media portrayals influence audience interest in para-sports and foster destigmatizing attitudes toward persons with disabilities.

February 9, 2016Communication ResearchOpen Access

Inspired by the Paralympics: Effects of Empathy on Audience Interest in Para-Sports and on the Destigmatization of Persons With Disabilities

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Authors

ABAnne BartschLeipzig University MOMary Beth OliverPennsylvania State University CNCordula NitschUniversity of Augsburg

Discussion

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Implication

Experimental study shows Paralympic media elicits empathy that increases sports interest and reduces stigma in viewers, indicating elevation drives prosocial support while pity hinders engagement.

Key Points

To examine how empathic responses to Paralympic athlete media portrayals influence audience interest in para-sports and foster destigmatizing attitudes toward persons with disabilities.
Conducted three experimental studies in which participants viewed Paralympic television spots designed to elicit varying degrees of empathy.
Modeled direct and indirect relationships linking empathy to viewer interest, attitudes, and behavioral intentions using structural equation modeling.
Empathy produced positive indirect effects on audience interest, prosocial attitudes, and behavioral intentions mediated by moral elevation and reflective thoughts in Studies 1 and 2.
Study 3 confirmed positive mediation through elevation and interpersonal closeness, but revealed a significant negative mediating effect driven by feelings of pity.

Cite This Study

Bartsch et al. (2016) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a163407512cb4f7828e997c https://doi.org/10.1177/0093650215626984

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Implication

Experimental study shows Paralympic media elicits empathy that increases sports interest and reduces stigma in viewers, indicating elevation drives prosocial support while pity hinders engagement.

Inspired by the Paralympics: Effects of Empathy on Audience Interest in Para-Sports and on the Destigmatization of Persons With Disabilities

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Inspired by the Paralympics: Effects of Empathy on Audience Interest in Para-Sports and on the Destigmatization of Persons With Disabilities

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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