Citation

Coyne SM, Stockdale L, Linder JR, Nelson DA, Collier KM, Essig LW. J. Abnorm. Child Psychol. 2017; 45(8): 1523-1535.

Affiliation

School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, JFSB 2087, Provo, UT, 84602, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10802-016-0253-6

PMID

28070754

Abstract

Many schools and parents try to motivate children to become defenders of victimized peers. Defending behavior is common in the media (particularly in superhero programs); however, no study has examined the effect of media on defending behavior. The aim of the study was to examine longitudinal associations between superhero engagement and a variety of aggressive, prosocial, and defending behaviors in preschool children. Participants consisted of 240 preschoolers (49% male) and their parents who reported on child media use and outcomes at 2 different time points. Preschooler's engagement with superheroes was related to increased physical and relational aggression 1 year later. Engagement with superheroes was not related to prosocial or defending behaviors. Implications of the results are discussed.

Language: en