Media exposure and child psychology: Parental perceptions about effects

Abstract

This study explores the effect of media exposure on child’s psychology according to parental perceptions. Aggression and self-concept are selected as parameters of children psychology. The combined role of education and occupation of mothers as moderators in relationship between media exposure and children’s psychology are also analyzed. A survey was conducted with 400 parents of school going children aged between 6 to 12 years. The results show positive association of media exposure with psychology, self-concept and aggression among children according to their parents. Furthermore, the education of mother moderates the relation between media exposure and self-concept positively, while mother’s occupation does not moderate this relationship. The results also indicate that mother’s education negatively moderates the relationship between media exposure and aggression among children, however the occupation of mother positively moderates this relation. This study concludes that there is a strong effect of media exposure on children psychology as perceived by their parents.