Temporal dynamics of media and communication processes: a review of theories and meta-analysis of empirical studies

This study synthesized research from 4 theoretical frameworks that explicitly conceptualize media and communication as dynamic processes over time, emphasizing reciprocal and self-causing effects. A meta-analysis of 223 effect sizes from 103 studies supported the presence of both reciprocal and self-causing relationships, suggesting their robustness as communication phenomena. Time lag moderated self-causing effects, such that longer intervals weakened these effects. Longer lags attenuating the influence of media/communication on subsequent outcomes approached but did not reach statistical significance, and did not significantly alter the reverse pathway. Exploratory moderation analyses showed that effect sizes varied by audience age, analytic methods, topic areas, and media types. Findings highlight the importance of time lag specification in studying dynamic media effects.