Joy Gabrielli1, Aminata Traore1, Mike Stoolmiller2, Elaina Bergamini1, James D Sargent3. 1. Norris Cotton Cancer Center, and. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan. 3. Norris Cotton Cancer Center, and Department of Pediatrics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire; and james.d.sargent@dartmouth.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the industry-run television (TV) Parental Guidelines discriminate on violence, sexual behavior, alcohol use, and smoking in TV shows, to assess their usefulness for parents. METHODS: Seventeen TV shows (323 episodes and 9214 episode minutes) across several TV show rating categories (TVY7, TVPG, TV14, and TVMA) were evaluated. We content-coded the episodes, recording seconds of each risk behavior, and we rated the salience of violence in each one. Multilevel models were used to test for associations between TV rating categories and prevalence of risk behaviors across and within episodes or salience of violence. RESULTS: Every show had at least 1 risk behavior. Violence was pervasive, occurring in 70% of episodes overall and for 2.3 seconds per episode minute. Alcohol was also common (58% of shows, 2.3 seconds per minute), followed by sex (53% of episodes, 0.26 seconds per minute), and smoking (31% of shows, 0.54 seconds per minute). TV Parental Guidelines did not discriminate prevalence estimates of TV episode violence. Although TV-Y7 shows had significantly less substance use, other categories were poor at discriminating substance use, which was as common in TV-14 as TV-MA shows. Sex and gory violence were the only behaviors demonstrating a graded increase in prevalence and salience for older-child rating categories. CONCLUSIONS: TV Parental Guidelines ratings were ineffective in discriminating shows for 3 out of 4 behaviors studied. Even in shows rated for children as young as 7 years, violence was prevalent, prominent, and salient. TV ratings were most effective for identification of sexual behavior and gory violence.
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the industry-run television (TV) Parental Guidelines discriminate on violence, sexual behavior, alcohol use, and smoking in TV shows, to assess their usefulness for parents. METHODS: Seventeen TV shows (323 episodes and 9214 episode minutes) across several TV show rating categories (TVY7, TVPG, TV14, and TVMA) were evaluated. We content-coded the episodes, recording seconds of each risk behavior, and we rated the salience of violence in each one. Multilevel models were used to test for associations between TV rating categories and prevalence of risk behaviors across and within episodes or salience of violence. RESULTS: Every show had at least 1 risk behavior. Violence was pervasive, occurring in 70% of episodes overall and for 2.3 seconds per episode minute. Alcohol was also common (58% of shows, 2.3 seconds per minute), followed by sex (53% of episodes, 0.26 seconds per minute), and smoking (31% of shows, 0.54 seconds per minute). TV Parental Guidelines did not discriminate prevalence estimates of TV episode violence. Although TV-Y7 shows had significantly less substance use, other categories were poor at discriminating substance use, which was as common in TV-14 as TV-MA shows. Sex and gory violence were the only behaviors demonstrating a graded increase in prevalence and salience for older-child rating categories. CONCLUSIONS: TV Parental Guidelines ratings were ineffective in discriminating shows for 3 out of 4 behaviors studied. Even in shows rated for children as young as 7 years, violence was prevalent, prominent, and salient. TV ratings were most effective for identification of sexual behavior and gory violence.
Authors: Tumaini R Coker; Marc N Elliott; David C Schwebel; Michael Windle; Sara L Toomey; Susan R Tortolero; Marci F Hertz; Melissa F Peskin; Mark A Schuster Journal: Acad Pediatr Date: 2014-11-08 Impact factor: 3.107
Authors: Sonya Dal Cin; Keilah A Worth; Meg Gerrard; Mike Stoolmiller; James D Sargent; Thomas A Wills; Frederick X Gibbons Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2009-07 Impact factor: 4.267
Authors: Rebecca L Collins; Marc N Elliott; Sandra H Berry; David E Kanouse; Dale Kunkel; Sarah B Hunter; Angela Miu Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2004-09 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Anita Chandra; Steven C Martino; Rebecca L Collins; Marc N Elliott; Sandra H Berry; David E Kanouse; Angela Miu Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2008-11 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Reiner Hanewinkel; James D Sargent; Evelien A P Poelen; Ron Scholte; Ewa Florek; Helen Sweeting; Kate Hunt; Solveig Karlsdottir; Stefan Hrafn Jonsson; Federica Mathis; Fabrizio Faggiano; Matthis Morgenstern Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2012-03-05 Impact factor: 7.124