Television watching linked with antisocial behavior in children, supporting AAP recommendations
Feb 18th – The amount of time children and adolescents watch television is significantly associated with more antisocial behaviors and traits, as manifested through criminal convictions, diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, and aggressive personality traits.
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1. The amount of time children and adolescents watch television is significantly associated with more antisocial behaviors and traits, as manifested through criminal convictions, diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, and aggressive personality traits.
Researchers found significant associations between the amount of time children and adolescents spend watching television during childhood and the presence of antisocial behaviors and personality traits throughout early life into young adulthood. These results concur support findings from previous, smaller studies on the same topic. While this study is large and includes objective measurements of outcomes, it is weakened by reliance on parent and self-report for the time spent watching television. In addition, the mechanism of the development of antisocial behavior cannot be determined based on the study’s results. Although the study controlled for previous antisocial behavior, without specifics about the programming watched and knowledge of participants’ other childhood and adolescent activities, criminal behavior and antisocial personality cannot be attributed directly to television watching.
As the type and quality of television continues to change and differs greatly according to geographic location, further research needs to define and provide a more generalizable connection between television viewing and antisocial behaviors and traits. This study does support the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation to limit children’s “screen time,” with the current recommendation standing at 1-2 hours per day.
Click to read the study in Pediatrics
Click to read an accompanying commentary in Pediatrics
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1. The amount of time children and adolescents watch television is significantly associated with more antisocial behaviors and traits, as manifested through criminal convictions, diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, and aggressive personality traits.
This [prospective cohort] study investigated the connection between childhood and adolescent television watching and the development of antisocial behaviors and aggression. Time spent watching television on weekdays was tracked for 1037 children from Dunedin, New Zealand, at ages 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 21, and 26 years, with 980 of the original participants still involved at final follow-up. Television viewing time was determined from parent and participant report. Primary outcomes included participants’ criminal convictions throughout the study period, diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, and the presence of aggressive personality traits.
When controlling for covariates, researchers found significant associations between time spent watching television, criminal conviction, and diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder. Individuals who watched more television were also significantly more likely to have aggressive personality traits. These findings did not differ by gender.
Further reading:
1. Media and children: What needs to happen now?
In sum: Researchers found significant associations between the amount of time children and adolescents spend watching television during childhood and the presence of antisocial behaviors and personality traits throughout early life into young adulthood. These results concur support findings from previous, smaller studies on the same topic. While this study is large and includes objective measurements of outcomes, it is weakened by reliance on parent and self-report for the time spent watching television. In addition, the mechanism of the development of antisocial behavior cannot be determined based on the study’s results. Although the study controlled for previous antisocial behavior, without specifics about the programming watched and knowledge of participants’ other childhood and adolescent activities, criminal behavior and antisocial personality cannot be attributed directly to television watching.
As the type and quality of television continues to change and differs greatly according to geographic location, further research needs to define and provide a more generalizable connection between television viewing and antisocial behaviors and traits. This study does support the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation to limit children’s “screen time,” with the current recommendation standing at 1-2 hours per day.
Click to read the study in Pediatrics
Click to read an accompanying commentary in Pediatrics
By Leah H. Carr and Devika Bhushan
More from this author: American Academy of Pediatrics releases updated vaccination schedule; Banning smoking in public places linked to reduction in asthma-related hospital admissions; Paternal distress predicts poor early childhood mental health; Adolescents seeking weight loss treatment at higher risk for weight-based bullying
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