Children who watch excessive amounts of television are more likely to have criminal convictions and show aggressive personality traits as adults, a New Zealand study has found.
The University of Otago study tracked the viewing habits of about 1,000 children born in the early 1970s from when they were aged five to 15, then followed up when the subjects were 26 years old to assess potential impacts.
The research, published in the US journal "Pediatrics" this week, found a strong correlation between childhood exposure to television and anti-social behaviour in young adults.
"The risk of having a criminal conviction by early adulthood increased by about 30 percent with every hour that children spent watching television on an average weeknight," co-author Bob Hancox said.
The study also found excessive TV viewing was linked to aggressive personality traits and an increased tendency to experience negative emotions.
It said the links remained statistically significant even when issues such as intelligence, social status and parental control were factored in.
"While we're not saying that television causes all anti-social behaviour, our findings do suggest that reducing television viewing could go some way towards reducing rates of anti-social behaviour in society," Hancox said.
He said the findings supported the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation that children should watch no more than one to two hours of quality television programming a day.
The study said it was possible that children learned anti-social behaviour by watching it on TV, leading to emotional desensitisation and the development of aggressive behaviour.
But it said the content of what children were viewing was not the only factor, highlighting the social isolation experienced by those who spent hours watching the box.
"It is plausible that excessive television viewing contributes to anti-social behaviour in ways unrelated to violent content," it said.
"These mechanisms could include reduced social interaction with peers and parents, poorer educational achievement, and increased risk of unemployment."
Hancox said the study concentrated on children's viewing habits in the late 1970s and early 1980s, before the advent of personal computers, and further research was warranted into how such technology affected subsequent behaviour.
"If you're playing a computer game that not only exposes you to a lot of violence but actually simulates shooting people then that may be even worse, but I don't have any data on that," he told Radio New Zealand.
AFP
Tue Feb 19 2013
Malaysia negara pertama terima, TH edar Kad Haji Nusuk
Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) telah mula mengedarkan kad haji Nusuk bagi musim haji 1445H/2024M secara berperingkat kepada jemaah haji negara pada 18 Mei, menjadikan Malaysia antara negara terawal yang berbuat demikian bagi memperkemaskan proses dan meningkatkan langkah keselamatan untuk jemaah.
PM desak AS henti salur senjata kepada Israel
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menggesa Amerika Syarikat untuk menghentikan penyaluran bekalan senjata kepada Israel serta menggunakan kuasa vetonya untuk menamatkan kekejaman di Palestin.
Polis siasat ugutan bunuh terhadap Teresa Kok
Polis mengesahkan menerima laporan mengenai ugutan terhadap Ahli Parlimen Seputeh, Teresa Kok Suh Sim pada Ahad.
Fahmi kesal tindakan ugut terhadap Teresa Kok
Menteri Komunikasi dan Digital, Fahmi Fadzil meluahkan rasa kesal terhadap tindakan individu yang menghantar kertas ugutan bunuh bersama dua peluru kepada Ahli Parlimen Seputeh, Teresa Kok.
Teresa Kok terima kertas ugutan bunuh beserta peluru
Ahli Parlimen Seputeh, Teresa Kok menerima kertas ugutan bunuh bersaiz A4 bersama dua peluru yang diletakkan dalam peti surat di kediamannya.
Sindiket seludup diesel akibatkan ketirisan RM1.2 juta sehari di Bukit Kayu Hitam
Kenderaan sindiket ini yang membawa diesel disembunyikan di dalam tangki tambahan, dikesan berulang alik kira-kira lima kali sehari ke Thailand.
1 Rumah 1 Jalur Gemilang semarakkan sambutan Bulan Kebangsaan
Kementerian Komunikasi menyemarakkan sambutan Bulan Kebangsaan tahun ini dengan menggalakkan orang ramai mengibarkan bendera selaras aspirasi '1 Rumah 1 Jalur Gemilang' (1R1JG).
AWANI Borneo [19/05/2024] - Pemberian khas 40 peratus | Gaji minimum | Kembalikan UPSR
Laporan berita padat dan ringkas dari Borneo bersama Irfan Faruqi.
#AWANIBorneo 19 Mei 2024.
Jabatan Peguam Besar Negeri komited pertahan hak perlembagaan Sabah.
Kajian pendekatan kenaikan gaji minimum Sarawak berdasarkan ekonomi masa hadapan.
Keputusan kembalikan UPSR, Sarawak hargai sokongan KPM.
#AWANInews
#AWANIBorneo 19 Mei 2024.
Jabatan Peguam Besar Negeri komited pertahan hak perlembagaan Sabah.
Kajian pendekatan kenaikan gaji minimum Sarawak berdasarkan ekonomi masa hadapan.
Keputusan kembalikan UPSR, Sarawak hargai sokongan KPM.
#AWANInews
Aktivis teater Rosminah Tahir meninggal dunia
Pengarah teater Malam Haram dan Lantai T Pinkie itu menghembuskan nafas terakhir di kediamannya petang Ahad.
1,245 peserta tarian berpakaian etnik, Sarawak catat nama dalam MBOR
Sarawak menempah nama dalam Malaysia Book Of Records (MBOR) untuk peserta terbanyak berpakaian etnik dalam persembahan tarian berkoreograf dengan penyertaan 1,245 individu di Tebingan Sungai Kuching pada Ahad.