Journal article
Short- and Long-Term Effects of Superhero Media on Young Children's Risk-Taking Behaviors
Journal of pediatric psychology, Vol.46(7), pp.779-789
08/11/2021
DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsaa133
PMID: 33982100
Abstract
Unintentional injuries, the leading cause of death for American children, are caused by a range of psychosocial factors, including risk behavior. One factor that may impact child risk-taking is modeling of superhuman risk-taking from superhero media, both immediately following superhero exposure and based on lifetime exposure and engagement.
Fifty-nine 5-year-olds were randomly assigned to view either a 13-min age-appropriate superhero television show or a comparable nonsuperhero show. After the viewing, children engaged in three risk-taking measures: (a) activity room, unsupervised play for 5 min with assortment of apparently dangerous items that might encourage child risk-taking; (b) picture sort, 10 illustrations of children in risk situations, with participant response concerning intended risk-taking in that situation; and (c) vignettes, 10 stories presenting situations with varying degrees of risk, with participant response on intended choice. Parents completed questionnaires concerning children's long-term superhero media exposure and individual superhero engagement (e.g., if child's most recent Halloween costume was of a superhero). Correlations and regressions evaluated effects of immediate superhero exposure, lifetime superhero exposure, and lifetime superhero engagement on children's risk-taking.
Mixed results emerged. Lifetime superhero exposure was significantly related to children's risk-taking outcomes in two bivariate (vignettes and picture sort) and one multivariate (picture sort) model. Neither immediate superhero exposure nor lifetime superhero engagement was strongly related to risk-taking.
Children's lifetime superhero exposure may influence children's risk-taking. Given American children's substantial media exposure, research should continue to unpack the role of superhero media on children's unintentional injury and other health risk behaviors.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Short- and Long-Term Effects of Superhero Media on Young Children's Risk-Taking Behaviors
- Creators
- Casie H Morgan - University of Alabama at BirminghamBarbara A Morrongiello - University of GuelphDavid C Schwebel - University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of pediatric psychology, Vol.46(7), pp.779-789
- DOI
- 10.1093/jpepsy/jsaa133
- PMID
- 33982100
- NLM abbreviation
- J Pediatr Psychol
- ISSN
- 0146-8693
- eISSN
- 1465-735X
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/11/2021
- Academic Unit
- Research Administration
- Record Identifier
- 9984949457602771
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