The Impact of Zane Gonzalez’s Media Discussions About Obsessive Compulsive Disorder on Intentions to Share OCD Awareness

Mental health in media has been studied extensively. The role of celebrity disclosure is also considered in the process of destigmatizing mental illness. On January 12, 2025, a clip of Zane Gonzalez (National Football League player) went viral, leading to a broader discussion about him living with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). We conducted an online survey with a nationally representative American sample (N = 397) and found that attention paid to Zane Gonzalez media stories right after his disclosure was a media hot topic was associated with intentions to share OCD awareness, and it moderated the relationship between attitudes toward OCD and intentions to share OCD awareness, as well as information seeking efficacy and intentions to share OCD awareness.