The Influence of Flooding Imagery and Party Cues on Perceived Threat, Collective Efficacy, and Intentions for Political Action to Address Climate Change

This study investigates how episodic and thematic flooding imagery and political party cues in climate change news stories influence risk perceptions, collective efficacy perceptions, and intended political action. We found that imagery and party cues had significant total effects on perceived flooding threat but not on perceived climate change threat. Specifically, episodic imagery (but not thematic imagery) increased perceived flooding threat, and party cues lowered perceived threat. Perceived threat was positively associated with collective efficacy, which, in turn, was positively associated with intended political action. Both imagery and party cues had significant indirect effects on perceived efficacy and intended action.

Automated summary

This study investigates the influence of episodic and thematic flooding imagery and political party cues in climate change news stories on risk perceptions, collective efficacy perceptions, and intended political action. The findings suggest that imagery and party cues have significant effects on perceived flooding threat, but not on perceived climate change threat. Perceived threat is positively associated with collective efficacy, which in turn is positively associated with intended political action. Both imagery and party cues have significant indirect effects on perceived efficacy and intended action.