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Too much TV in childhood linked to long-term antisocial behavior
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Excessive television viewing during childhood and adolescence was linked to antisocial behavior in adulthood, unrelated to pre-existing antisocial tendencies or other potential confounders.
Although there have been longstanding concerns that extreme childhood exposure to television violence could foster antisocial behavior, observational research has been unable to discriminate whether children with antisocial tendencies are attracted to violent programs or children develop behavioral problems due to viewing television violence.
Lindsay A. Robertson
“Despite the numerous forms of media now available, children and adolescents still use television the most,” Lindsay A. Robertson, MPH, and colleagues from the department of preventive and social medicine at the University of Otago in New Zealand wrote. “New technologies such as on-demand television and digital recording devices offer children and adolescents more opportunities to watch inappropriate programs without supervision from their parents.”
To investigate whether disproportionate television viewing throughout childhood and adolescence was connected with increased antisocial behavior in early adulthood, Robertson and colleagues evaluated a cohort of 1,037 children born in Dunedin, New Zealand, at regular intervals from birth to age 26 years.
The researchers used regression analysis to examine the relationship between television viewing hours from ages 5 to 15 years compared with aggressive personality traits, criminal convictions, violent convictions or diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder in early adulthood.
According to analysis results, young adults who had spent more time watching television during childhood and adolescence were significantly more likely to receive a criminal conviction, a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder or exhibit aggressive personality traits vs. those who watched less television.
In addition, this relationship was similar for both sexes, suggesting that the association between television viewing and antisocial behavior is similar for male and female viewers.
“More time spent watching television in childhood and adolescence is associated with antisocial behavior in early adulthood. These associations were not explained by pre-existing antisocial behavioral problems, lack of parental control, socioeconomic background, or IQ,” Robertson and colleagues wrote. “We believe that identifying ways to reduce children’s and adolescents’ television viewing should be considered a priority for public health.”
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.
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