To investigate whether excessive television viewing throughout childhood and adolescence is associated with increased antisocial behavior in early adulthood.
We assessed a birth cohort of 1037 individuals born in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1972–1973, at regular intervals from birth to age 26 years. We used regression analysis to investigate the associations between television viewing hours from ages 5 to 15 years and criminal convictions, violent convictions, diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, and aggressive personality traits in early adulthood.
Young adults who had spent more time watching television during childhood and adolescence were significantly more likely to have a criminal conviction, a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, and more aggressive personality traits compared with those who viewed less television. The associations were statistically significant after controlling for sex IQ, socioeconomic status, previous antisocial behavior, and parental control. The associations were similar for both sexes, indicating that the relationship between television viewing and antisocial behavior is similar for male and female viewers.
Excessive television viewing in childhood and adolescence is associated with increased antisocial behavior in early adulthood. The findings are consistent with a causal association and support the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that children should watch no more than 1 to 2 hours of television each day.
Dear Editor: Robertson and colleagues assert that the link between excessive television viewing in childhood and adolescence and increased antisocial behavior (criminal convictions, antisocial personality disorder, and more aggressive personality traits) in early adulthood, as demonstrated in their recent longitudinal study is "consistent with a causal association".1 I would argue that the "verdict is still out" on this issue. First, the lack of randomization precludes the ability to establish causality. Second, the authors did not control for a key factor that could have contributed to their findings: parental antisocial behaviors. Strong evidence indicates that behavioral patterns are transmitted across generations; children who grow up in antisocial families are more likely to become antisocial themselves.2,3 Antisocial parents are more likely to have inept parenting practices including poor monitoring, hostility, coercive interactions, and harsh and inconsistent discipline;4 I would venture to guess that antisocial parents are also more likely to let their children watch excessive amounts of television. REFERENCES: 1. Robertson LA, McAnally HM, Hancox RJ. Childhood and Adolescent Television Viewing and Antisocial Behavior in Early Adulthood. Pediatrics. Feb 18 2013. 2. Conger RD, Neppl T, Kim KJ, Scaramella L. Angry and aggressive behavior across three generations: a prospective, longitudinal study of parents and children. Journal of abnormal child psychology. Apr 2003;31(2):143-160. 3. Thornberry TP, Freeman-Gallant A, Lizotte AJ, Krohn MD, Smith CA. Linked lives: the intergenerational transmission of antisocial behavior. Journal of abnormal child psychology. Apr 2003;31(2):171-184. 4. Dogan SJ, Conger RD, Kim KJ, Masyn KE. Cognitive and parenting pathways in the transmission of antisocial behavior from parents to adolescents. Child development. Jan-Feb 2007;78(1):335-349.
Conflict of Interest:
None declared