Media Use and ADHD-Related Behaviors in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis

• In Event: Opportunities and Barriers to Learning From Television

Abstract

There are several theoretical reasons to believe that media use might be related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or ADHD-related behaviors (i.e., attention problems, hyperactivity, and impulsivity). Although studies into this relationship have accumulated, they have yielded inconsistent results. Therefore, we still do not know whether children’s media use and ADHD-related behaviors are related, and if so, under which conditions. To fill this gap, we first identified six hypotheses that explain why media use in general, and use of fast-paced or violent content might be related to ADHD-related behaviors. Subsequently, we conducted a meta-analysis of 42 empirical studies investigating the relationship between media use and ADHD-related behaviors in children and adolescents. Our results indicated a small, but statistically significant relationship between media use and ADHD-related behaviors (r+ = .12). Finally, we identified several specific gaps in the existing literature and presented five crucial directions for future research.

Authors

• Sanne Nikkelen, University of Amsterdam

• Patti M. Valkenburg, U of Amsterdam

• Mariette Huizinga, VU U - Amsterdam

• Brad J Bushman, Ohio State U