Prof. Rossmann and her team deal with the socio-psychological and social backgrounds and consequences of interpersonal, public and digital communication and apply these in particular to health, risk and science communication.
Research Interests:
Health Communication • Science, Risk and Crisis Communication • Media Reception and Effects
Prof. Rossmann and her team deal with the socio-psychological and social backgrounds and consequences of interpersonal, public and digital communication and apply these in particular to health, risk and science communication. Central questions relate to media reporting on health and illness, health-related information and communication behavior, intended and unintended effects of media messages on health-related cognitions, emotions and behaviors, strategic health and science communication (e.g., evidence-based campaign research, persuasion research), crisis communication as well as eHealth and mHealth. The spectrum of health and risk topics reaches from physical activity, chronic diseases, vaccinations, Covid-19 to planetary health, women’s health, and mental health. These topics are investigated using various methodological approaches (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods), methods of data collection (esp. systematic reviews, content analyses, surveys), and study designs (experimental and non-experimental, cross sectional and longitudinal studies).
DISELMA examines the role of digital media in the self-management of the chronic diseases at the individual, interpersonal, organizational, and societal levels. Six subprojects at five institutions are analyzing the use and effects, the significance of negotiation processes between doctors and patients as well as between patients and their peers, organizational influences, and the portrayal of chronic diseases and their digital self-management in mass media and social media. By integrating these individual projects and employing innovative methods and research designs, DISELMA aims to specify theoretical connections between the different levels and make them fruitful for related areas. Additionally, the integrated evidence on the significance of digital media in chronic disease self-management aims to contribute to healthier conditions and empower individuals to better cope with their conditions.
Fruther information on the DISELMA project and the study protocol.
Duration: 12/2023 – 11/2027
Leadership: Prof. Dr. Constanze Rossmann
External Partners: Technische Universität Chemnitz, Universität Bielefeld, Universität Münster, Freie Universität Berlin
Financial Support: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
The individual project Effects within the DFG-research unit DISELMA aims to systemize mHealth, identify patterns of continued use, and analyze how mobile chronic disease management impacts cognitive, behavioral, and health outcomes, including reciprocal effects perceived social influences.
Further information about the DISELMA project.
Duration: 12/2023 – 11/2027
Leadership: Prof. Dr. Constanze Rossmann
External Partners: Technische Universität Chemnitz, Universität Bielefeld, Universität Münster, Frei Universität Berlin
Financial Support: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
How do physicians and patients act together over time to use digital media for self-management of chronic diseases? What factors limit or support the use of digital media for self-management? This subproject addresses these questions by conducting participant observations during medical consultations and by carrying out two waves of interviews with physician–patient dyads.
Further information on the DISELMA project.
Duration: 12/2023 – 12/2027
Leadership: PD Dr. habil. Claudia Riesmeyer
External Partners: Technische Universität Chemnitz, Universität Bielefeld, Universität Münster, Frei Universität Berlin
Financial Support: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
How do physicians and patients act together over time to use digital media for self-management of chronic diseases? What factors limit or support the use of digital media for self-management? This subproject addresses these questions by conducting participant observations during medical consultations and by carrying out two waves of interviews with physician–patient dyads.
Further information on theproject MSCL.
Duration: 12/2021 – 03/2027
Leadership: Dr. Julia Serong, Dr. Bernhard Goodwin
External Partners: Deutsches Museum, BIOTOPIA Naturkundemuseum Bayern, Helmholtz Munich, TUM, Kulturreferat der Landeshauptstadt München, Deutsche Journalistenschule, Planetary Health Alliance, KLUG (Deutsche Allianz für Klimawandel und Gesundheit), Global Health Institute (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Mediaschool Bayern
Financial Support Volkswagen Stiftung
Generative AI chatbots are becoming an increasingly important source of health information. But how “good” and useful are the responses they generate for users? BIAS-AI addresses this question by focusing on two forms of systematic bias: (1) algorithmic bias (especially racism and sexism/genderism), and (2) confirmation bias in human–computer interaction.
Duration: 07/2026 – 06/2029
Leadership: Dr. Anne Reinhardt
Financial Support: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
The project investigates how people perceive generative AI such as ChatGPT and similar tools as a source of health information, and which factors influence their intention to use them and their level of trust. It is an international consortium with project partners from the universities of Vienna, Belgrade, Aarhus, and Paris.
Duration: : 01/2024 – 12/2024
Leadership: Prof. Dr. Jörg Matthes (Universität Wien), Dr. Anne Reinhardt
External Partners: Universitäten Wien, Belgrad, Aarhus und Paris
Finacial Suppert: Circle U.
The project of Dr. Lara Kobilke and Dr. Antonia Markiewitz gives insights into the world of TikTok challenges. The study closely examines the rapid spread and effects of the online phenomenon, especially with regard to the 10 to 16 age group.
Further information on the project: Bericht TikTok Challenges
Duration: 06/2023 – 02/2024
Leadership: Dr. Lara Kobilke, Dr. Antonia Markiewitz
Financial Support: Landesanstalt für Medien NRW
Media coverage of the debate on COVID-19 vaccination mandates in Germany likely influenced the public’s acceptance of mandatory vaccination. Evaluating media reporting together with acceptance data provides valuable insights for future health crises.
Duration: 01/2022 - 12/2022
Leadership of the collaborative project: Nora Katharina Schmid-Küpke (RKI), Ole Wichmann (RKI)
Leadership of the subproject: Prof. Dr. Constanze Rossmann, Prof. Dr. Carsten Reinemann
External Partners: Robert Koch-Institut (RKI), Universität Erfurt
Financial Support: Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (BMG)
The research project investigates the potential of mobile media for information and prevention behavior in the context of child injuries from the perspective of parents, pedagogical and medical staff as well as intermediaries in healthcare.
Duration: 12/2019 – 12/2022
Leadership: Prof. Dr. Constanze Rossmann, Prof. Dr. Doreen Reifegerste (Universität Bielefeld), Dr. Paula Stehr
External Partners: Universität Bielefeld
Financial Support: Universität Bielefeld, Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR)
In this project, funded by the Federal Institute for Public Health, we developed an evidence-based COVID-19 communication strategy for adolescents and young adults in Germany using a multi-method approach.
Further information on the project: project report Pandemic Fatigue
Duration: 11/2020 – 05/2021
Leadership: Prof. Dr. Constanze Rossmann
External Partners: Dr. Winja Weber
Financial Support: : Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG, ehemals BZgA)
This doctoral project explores frames in health communication that are not composed solely of textual or visual elements, but instead consist of multiple modalities (e.g., image and text elements) - making them multimodal in nature. The project first addresses the conceptual question of what characterizes a multimodal frame in health communication. Building on this, multimodal media frames in health-related media content are empirically identified, and their effects on audiences are examined.
Execution: Mara Berlekamp, M.A.
Supervision: Prof. Dr. Constanze Rossmann, Prof. Dr. Lars Guenther
This PhD project investigates the acceptance of Digital Health Applications (DiGA) among physicians and patients, as well as the corresponding physician-patient communication. Through qualitative interviews with both groups, previous experiences, potentials, and barriers regarding the prescription and use of DiGA were examined. Furthermore, communicative processes and the potential impact of DiGA on the physician-patient relationship were addressed.
Execution: Lyn Ermel, M.A.
Supervision: Prof. Dr. Constanze Rossmann, PD Dr. Claudia Riesmeyer
This PhD project examines constructive elements in climate and environmental journalism based on fear and hope appeal theory. Using online experiments, the project examines the cognitive, affective, and conative effects of key constructive elements, such as solution orientation and future orientation. In addition, a qualitative component explores how audiences perceive and evaluate constructive elements.
The dissertation is being conducted as part of the Munich Science Communication Lab
Execution: Anna Gaul, M.A.
Supervision: Prof. Dr. Constanze Rossmann, Prof. Dr. Lars Guenther
What happens in an increasingly digitalized world when people with diabetes have only limited or no access to digital media - as is the case, for example, in closed prison settings? This dissertation project explores this question using a qualitative research approach. Participant observations of medical consultations both inside and outside the prison system are conducted, along with semi-structured interviews with (prison) physicians and (incarcerated) diabetes patients. The focus is on how (digital) media can be implemented and used for diabetes self-management both within and outside prison settings. In addition, the study examines the relationships between (digital) self-management practices and the physicians-patient relationship.
The dissertation is being conducted as part of the DFG Research Unit DISELMA.
Execution: Rebecca Kammerer, M.A.
Supervision: Prof. Dr. Constanze Rossmann, PD Dr. habil Claudia Riesmeyer
This thesis examines how anonymity shapes communication and behavior in the context of social networking on the Tor network. It conceptualizes anonymity as a multidimensional construct and develops a theoretical framework that integrates both social and technical dimensions of anonymity. The research situates Tor as a key infrastructure enabling anonymous social interaction within darknet environments. In particular, it investigates how anonymity influences user behavior on these platforms, with a focus on the online disinhibition effect.
Execution: Alexandra Lux
Supervision: Sabine Trepte (Universität Hohenheim), Michael Scharkow (Universität Mainz)
Mentorship: Tobias Dienlin (Universität Zürich)
The cumulative habilitation project examines trust in AI-generated information, with a particular focus on the healthcare context. It conceptually clarifies what “trust” actually means in this domain and how it can be measured in a valid and reliable way. In addition, it identifies key factors that influence trust in AI-generated health information and evaluates the trustworthiness of the information itself (especially with regard to systematic biases). Overall, the habilitation aims to develop a deeper understanding of the tension between perceived trust and actual trustworthiness in the context of AI-generated information.
Execution: Dr. Anne Reinhardt
Mentoring: Prof. Dr. Constanze Rossmann, Prof. Dr. Ruth Wendt, Prof. Dr. Jörg Matthes (Universität Wien)
The aim of the dissertation project is to go beyond short-term usage and to understand the motivational mechanisms that explain continuous use and longer-term health effects in self-management. Based on a four-wave panel survey (individual project “Effects,” Research Unit DISELMA), the study examines which mHealth usage patterns can be identified over time and what (reciprocal) effects arise from them in self-management.
The dissertation is being conducted within the DFG Research Unit DISELMA.
Execution: Nariman Sawalha, M.A.
Supervision: Prof. Dr. Constanze Rossmann, Prof. Dr. Veronika Karnowski (TU Chemnitz)
The cumulative habilitation project examines what it means for mediated public communication on health and environmental issues that humans are social beings. This fact can be reflected in the media content being person-centered or when messages highlight the social causes and consequences of behavior. Similarly, potential media effects can also be explained by social influences such as normative perceptions or empathy with affected individuals. In the habilitation project, these social content characteristics and underlying mechanisms are investigated based on literature reviews, usage and effect studies.
Execution: Dr. Paula Stehr
Mentorship: Prof. Dr. Constanze Rossmann, Prof. Dr. Diana Rieger, Prof. Dr. Andreas Fahr (Université de Fribourg)
Professor, Director of Institute
Health Communication • Crisis Communication • Science Communication
Academic Staff
Health Communication • Multimodal Framing • Responsibility Framing
Academic Staff
Health communication • Acceptance of digital health technologies • Doctor-patient communication
Academic Staff
Health communication (mental health • suicide/suicidality • social media & children/adolescents) • Journalism
Academic Staff
Evidence-based intervention plannung • media psychology • women's health
Academic Staff
Health Communication • mHealth • self-management
Research Director Munich Science Communication Lab
science communication • media quality • public sphere theory
Academic Staff
Health communication • Environmental communication • Science communication • Digital media
Academic Staff
Science communication • Planetary Health • Constructive journalism
Academic Staff
Health Communication • Sociology of (Prison) Medicine • and Role Theory (with a focus on Role Conflicts)
