San Diego – A new research study has found that youths with minimal exposure to violence in movies, television, music, games and Web sites are significantly less likely to report violent and aggressive behaviors than those exposed to more violent media.
The study, presented at the American Public Health Association’s 136th Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Diego, examined data from the Growing up with Media survey, a national survey of almost 1,600 youths between the ages of 10 and 15.
Researchers found that youths reporting that “none or almost none” of the media they consume depicts violence were 85 percent less likely to report seriously violent behavior than youth exposed to more violent media; youth reporting “some” violent media were 50 percent less likely. The results were similar for bullying behavior and fighting as well.
“Our findings suggest that a reduction of violent media consumption for children and adolescents to ‘almost none or none’ may decrease bullying and fighting behavior among youth,” said Michele Ybarra, MPH, PhD, lead researcher on the study.
Session 5080.0 – How protective against child and adolescent aggressive behavior is a violence-free media diet?
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 – 9:15 AM
Researchers: Michele Ybarra, MPH, PhD, and Marie Diener-West, PhD.
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