Citation

Korhonen P, Lahikainen AR. J. Child. Media 2008; 2(2): 147.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/17482790802078664

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyse the changing role of the media in children's everyday lives with reference to children's fears and well-being. The method was semistructured interviews with children aged 5 to 6 in Finland in 1993 (101 children) and 2003 (109 children). Nearly 80 per cent of children reported TV-induced fears both in 1993 and in 2003. There was a significant increase over the 10 years in fears caused by children's programmes and fantasy characters and a significant decrease in fears caused by adults' programmes. TV-induced fears correlated positively with fears of nightmares at both times; with fears of imaginary creatures and war, guns and violence in 2003; and with major accidents and death in 1993.

Keywords: children; fear; Finland; imaginary creatures; TV-induced fears; TV programmes; violence