Parental Mediation of Children’s Television and Video Game Use: Active and Embedded in Family Processes

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session and Reception
  In Interactive Paper Session: Children, Adolescents, and the Media Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

In the present study, parents and their nine to 12 year-old children reported on their usage of television and video games. The results shed light on the complex interaction between family processes and cognitive media beliefs. Above all, we found that mediation strategies differ from acknowledged media usage conceptions in that parents play a more active role than previously assumed. Restrictive mediation comprises rules and restrictions, but also parents’ educative explanations that media do not reflect reality. Patronizing mediation includes shared media consumption, but also parents commenting on media contents. Pointing out and emphasizing socio-emotional features in the media content (e.g., acts of empathy) characterizes an active-emotional co-use (AEC). Parental fear of negative media effects predicted both AEC and restrictive mediation. Children and parents’ congruent perceptions of family interactions predicted AEC and patronizing video game mediation. Overall, positive ratings of family interactions were associated with children using media less frequently.

Authors

• Violetta Schaan, U Trier

• Andre Melzer, University of Luxembourg