Citation

Russell CA, Russell DW, Boland WA, Grube JW. J. Child. Media 2014; 8(1): 5-22.

Affiliation

Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Prevention Research Center, 180 Grand Avenue, Suite 1200, Oakland, CA 94612.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/17482798.2014.863475

PMID

24678341

PMCID

PMC3963162

Abstract

Cultivation research has shown that heavy television viewing is linked to audiences' generalized, and often skewed, views of reality. This research investigates whether television viewing is related to adolescents' views about the consequences of drinking and whether psychological trait reactance moderates this cultivation effect.

RESULTS from a survey of 445 American teenagers show that cumulative exposure to television is linked to reduced beliefs about alcohol's negative consequences and greater intentions to drink. These effects were greater for adolescents low on trait reactance. This research adds to the general psychological research on trait reactance as a moderator of media influences and makes a substantive contribution towards furthering our understanding of the media and public health concerns that surround risky adolescent behaviors.

Language: en