Kids Health Notes

Watching violent TV may lead to anti-social behavior in boys

by Grace on November 7th, 2007

It’s scary that this new study on TV watching and behavior of children has significant results.

Boys who watch violent television as preschoolers are more likely to develop anti-social behavior just a few years later. The same effect was not observed in girls, nor between non-violent or education TV watching and anti-social behavior in either boys or girls.

The study, appearing in a November issue of Pediatrics, followed pre-school boys ages 2-5 who watched violent TV shows. These boys were four times more likely to display aggressive and anti-social behavior at ages 7-9.

This is an alarming trend as this study indicates that it only takes a few years for exposure to violence to take effect. These are important findings because early childhood anti-social behavior is a predictor of violent behavior in youth and adolescents.

What’s even more alarming is the finding that shows considered as “children’s television” contained a significant amount of violence. Some of these shows include Power Rangers, Star Wars, Space Jam, Spider-man, and football.

The researchers recommend that parents modify the content viewed by children, from violent shows to more educational or nonviolent to reduce the the exposure and effects of violence on children.

sources: AAP ; Pediatrics; image

Tags: television, violence, TV, watching, boys, preschool, anti-social, behavior, aggressive

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POSTED IN: Behavior and Emotional Health, Family and Home