Media Violence and Adolescents’ ADHD-Related Behaviors: The Role of Parental Mediation

• In Event: Recent Discoveries on the Relationship Between Media Use and ADHD

Abstract

This study investigated the role of parental mediation in the relationship between media violence and ADHD-related behaviors. Specifically, we examined the role of how restrictive (i.e., rule-setting) and active (i.e., discussing content) mediation strategies were communicated to the adolescent: in a controlling, inconsistent, or autonomy-supportive way. Using survey data from 1,017 adolescents (10-14 yrs), we found that inconsistent restriction was positively related to violent media use, and indirectly, positively, related to ADHD-related behaviors via violent media consumption. Autonomy-supportive restriction was negatively related to violent media use, and indirectly, negatively, related to ADHD-related behaviors. Controlling restriction was also negatively related to violent media use, but not indirectly related to ADHD-related behaviors. Lastly, controlling or autonomy-supportive active mediation did not moderate the relationship between violent media use and ADHD-related behaviors. Our findings provide insight into how to manage adolescents’ media use to reduce violent media consumption, and potentially, adolescents’ ADHD-related behaviors.

Authors

• Sanne Nikkelen, U of Amsterdam

• Helen Vossen, U of Amsterdam

• Jessica Taylor Piotrowski, U of Amsterdam

• Patti M. Valkenburg, U of Amsterdam