Health and Social Welfare Review

Abstract

This study examines the cognitive pathways through which media coverage of low birth rates influences marriage and childbearing intentions, drawing on the Orientation–Stimulus–Orientation–Response (O–S–O–R) model. To this end, data were drawn from a two-wave online longitudinal panel survey of adults aged 19–49 recruited nationwide (N = 1,614). In the first wave (T1), perceived seriousness of the issue (O1), exposure to media coverage (S), and issue involvement (O2) were measured. In the second wave (T2), marriage and childbearing intentions (R) were assessed based on the Transtheoretical Model (TTM). Marriage intentions were assessed among unmarried respondents, while childbearing intentions were assessed among married respondents. After controlling for demographic variables, serial mediation effects were tested using the PROCESS macro (Model 6). The results indicated that, first, individuals who perceived the issue as more serious were more likely to report greater exposure to related media coverage (O1→S). Second, exposure to media coverage was positively associated with issue involvement (S→O2). Third, issue involvement had a significant positive effect on behavioral intentions (O2→R). Fourth, perceived seriousness of the issue had no significant direct effect on behavioral intentions; rather, it exerted a significant indirect effect on marriage and childbearing intentions through a fully mediated pathway involving media exposure and issue involvement (O1→S→O2→R).

초록

본 연구는 저출산 언론 보도가 결혼 및 출산 행동 의향에 미치는 인지적 경로를 O–S–O–R 모형에 따라 분석했다. 이를 위해 만 19–49세 전국 성인 대상으로 2차례 걸쳐 수집한 온라인 종단 설문(2-wave panel) 자료를 활용했다(N=1,614). 1차 조사(T1)에서는 이슈 심각성 인식(O1), 언론보도 노출(S), 이슈 관여도(O2)를, 2차 조사(T2)에서는 범이론적 모형(TTM)에 기반한 결혼 및 출산 행동 의향(R)을 측정했다. 인구통계학적 요인을 통제한 후 PROCESS macro(Model 6)로 직렬 매개 효과를 검증했다. 분석 결과, 첫째, 이슈를 심각하게 인식할수록 관련 보도에 더 많이 노출되는 선택적 노출(O1→S) 경향이 나타났다. 둘째, 언론 보도 노출은 이슈 관여도를 유의하게 높였으며(S→O2), 셋째, 이슈 관여도는 행동 의향에 유의미한 정적 효과를 나타냈다(O2→R). 넷째, 이슈 심각성은 행동 의향에 직접 영향을 주지 못하고, 뉴스 노출과 이슈 관여도를 통한 완전 매개 구조를 통해서 결혼 및 출산 행동 의향에 유의한 효과(O1→S→O2→R)를 미쳤다.