Media Trust and Perceived Media Stress Among Filipino, Hungarian, and Iranian LGBTQ+ People: A Cross-Cultural Comparative Study

This cross-cultural comparative study sought to estimate levels of media trust and perceived media stress and model the associations of these perceptions with coping self-efficacy, positive thinking, and negativity toward heterosexual individuals and society. A total of 1,153 self-identified LGBTQ+ individuals from three countries (Philippines, Hungary, Iran) where LGBTQ+ rights are restricted by governmental actions completed an online survey. Media trust was higher among Filipinos compared to Hungarians and Iranians. Perceived media stress was the highest in the Iranian sample. Mediation models revealed that lower media trust was associated with higher perceived media stress among Filipinos and Hungarians. When coping was added to the model, higher perceived media stress was associated with higher perceived ability to cope with negative attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people among Filipinos, which, in turn, was associated with more positive thinking. By contrast, higher perceived media stress was negatively associated with coping ability among Hungarians, though coping ability remained a predictor of positive thinking. Findings suggest that LGBTQ+ perceptions of the local media—regarding its trustworthiness and distressing nature—can be associated with individuals’ self-assessment of coping abilities, relationships with heterosexuals and society, and positive outlook on life. However, the nature of these associations may be culture-specific.