View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Valence of immigration news, perceived threat, and support for restrictive immigration policy: A multilevel study across 26 countries.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Valence of immigration news, perceived threat, and support for restrictive immigration policy: A multilevel study across 26 countries.
Authors: Vétois, Matthieu (AUTHOR), Kende, Judit (AUTHOR), Geisser, Christopher (AUTHOR), Pedrazzini, Sabina (AUTHOR), Falomir‐Pichastor, Juan M. (AUTHOR), Green, Eva G. T. (AUTHOR)
Source: Political Psychology. Dec2025, Vol. 46 Issue 6, p1945-1965. 21p.
Subjects: Emigration & immigration, Threat (Psychology), Mass media influence, Contextual analysis, Objectivity in journalism, Policy sciences, Social surveys, Intergroup relations
Abstract: Immigration is often portrayed negatively in the news, yet previous research remains inconclusive about how the valence of immigration news in national coverage relates to individual immigration policy preferences. Furthermore, the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood. This study examined whether, in national contexts where immigration news has a more negative valence, there is greater support for restrictive policies and heightened threat perceptions. Drawing on Intergroup Threat Theory, we also assessed whether threat perceptions explained the link between more negative immigration news and restrictive immigration policy support. Additionally, we tested whether greater salience of immigration in the news amplifies these associations. Using data from Rounds 6–8 of the European Social Survey (ESS; n = 113,654) and the ESS Media Claims dataset (n = 18,451), covering 26 countries from 2012 to 2017, multilevel regression analyses showed that more negative immigration news was associated with increased restrictive policy support, a relationship fully explained by heightened threat perceptions. Greater salience did not reinforce these associations. These findings underscore the link between immigration news valence in national media and policy preferences, highlighting threat perceptions as a key factor in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Political Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 189766426
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Valence of immigration news, perceived threat, and support for restrictive immigration policy: A multilevel study across 26 countries.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vétois%2C+Matthieu%22">Vétois, Matthieu</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kende%2C+Judit%22">Kende, Judit</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Geisser%2C+Christopher%22">Geisser, Christopher</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pedrazzini%2C+Sabina%22">Pedrazzini, Sabina</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Falomir‐Pichastor%2C+Juan+M%2E%22">Falomir‐Pichastor, Juan M.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Green%2C+Eva+G%2E+T%2E%22">Green, Eva G. T.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Political+Psychology%22">Political Psychology</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 46 Issue 6, p1945-1965. 21p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emigration+%26+immigration%22">Emigration & immigration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Threat+%28Psychology%29%22">Threat (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mass+media+influence%22">Mass media influence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Contextual+analysis%22">Contextual analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Objectivity+in+journalism%22">Objectivity in journalism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Policy+sciences%22">Policy sciences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+surveys%22">Social surveys</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intergroup+relations%22">Intergroup relations</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Immigration is often portrayed negatively in the news, yet previous research remains inconclusive about how the valence of immigration news in national coverage relates to individual immigration policy preferences. Furthermore, the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood. This study examined whether, in national contexts where immigration news has a more negative valence, there is greater support for restrictive policies and heightened threat perceptions. Drawing on Intergroup Threat Theory, we also assessed whether threat perceptions explained the link between more negative immigration news and restrictive immigration policy support. Additionally, we tested whether greater salience of immigration in the news amplifies these associations. Using data from Rounds 6–8 of the European Social Survey (ESS; n = 113,654) and the ESS Media Claims dataset (n = 18,451), covering 26 countries from 2012 to 2017, multilevel regression analyses showed that more negative immigration news was associated with increased restrictive policy support, a relationship fully explained by heightened threat perceptions. Greater salience did not reinforce these associations. These findings underscore the link between immigration news valence in national media and policy preferences, highlighting threat perceptions as a key factor in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Political Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=189766426
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/pops.70019
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 1945
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Emigration & immigration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Threat (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mass media influence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Contextual analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Objectivity in journalism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Policy sciences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social surveys
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intergroup relations
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Valence of immigration news, perceived threat, and support for restrictive immigration policy: A multilevel study across 26 countries.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Vétois, Matthieu
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kende, Judit
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Geisser, Christopher
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Pedrazzini, Sabina
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Falomir‐Pichastor, Juan M.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Green, Eva G. T.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0162895X
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 46
            – Type: issue
              Value: 6
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Political Psychology
              Type: main
ResultId 1