Citation

Singer MI, Slovak K, Frierson T, York P. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 1998; 37(10): 1041-1048.

Affiliation

Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/00004583-199810000-00014

PMID

9785715

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the extent to which children's television-viewing practices are associated with symptoms of psychological trauma and aggressive behaviors. The following three hypotheses were tested: (1) children who report watching greater amounts of television per day will report higher levels of trauma symptoms than children who report lesser amounts of television viewing; (2) children who report watching greater amounts of television per day will report higher levels of violent behaviors than children who report watching lesser amounts of television per day; and (3) children who report a preference for action and fighting programs will report higher levels of violent behaviors than children who report a preference for other types of television programs. METHOD: The study used a survey design in which an anonymous self-report questionnaire was administered to students in grades 3 through 8 in 11 Ohio public schools during the 1995-1996 school year (N = 2,245). RESULTS: All three hypotheses were supported. CONCLUSION: Heavy television viewing by children may indicate the presence of problems such as depression, anxiety, and violent behaviors; such viewing should be screened for by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals working with children.

Language: en