Are caregivers concerned about media violence? A survey of U.S. parents’ beliefs about specific media violence effects

Abstract

Using the extended parallel process model (EPPM), we argue parents and caregivers will be concerned about media violence when they perceive the outcomes as being severe, and they perceive their families as being susceptible. To test these hypotheses, a survey was distributed in the United States among primary caregivers of children ages 4 through 11 (K–5th grade). In it, we provided parents with layperson descriptions of five common media effect outcomes: fear, cultivation, desensitization, aggression, and hostility. For each violent media effect, caregivers provided their beliefs about the perceived severity and susceptibility for their oldest child in the K-5th grade range while focusing on one of three media: television, movies, or video games. Results suggest parents view their children as most susceptible to fear and cultivation outcomes, but not aggression and hostility. On the other hand, they perceived aggression and hostility to be the most severe. Consistent with the EPPM, ratings of susceptibility and severity predicted overall anxiety about media violence effects. Implications for media violence intervention strategies are discussed.