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

• DOI: 10.1111/pops.70019
• Publication Date: 2025-04-15T10:19:11Z
• Authors: Matthieu Vétois; Judit Kende; Christopher Geisser; Sabina Pedrazzini; Juan M. Falomir‐P...; Eva G. T. Green

Abstract Immigration is often portrayed negatively in the news, yet previous research remains inconclusive about how valence of immigration news national coverage relates to individual policy preferences. Furthermore, psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood. This study examined whether, contexts where has a more negative valence, there greater support for restrictive policies and heightened threat perceptions. Drawing on Intergroup Threat Theory, we also assessed whether perceptions explained link between support. Additionally, tested salience amplifies these associations. Using data from Rounds 6–8 European Social Survey (ESS; n = 113,654) ESS Media Claims dataset ( 18,451), covering 26 countries 2012 2017, multilevel regression analyses showed that was associated with increased support, fully by Greater did reinforce These findings underscore media preferences, highlighting as key factor process.