Key Takeaways
Boys who watch violent TV are more likely to grow into aggressive teenagers
Preschoolers exposed to TV violence were more likely as teens to act aggressively and run into trouble with the law
No such effect was observed in girls
FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2025 (HealthDay news) -- Superhero slugfests and TV tough-guy shootouts might have long-term effects on a preschool boy's behavior, a new study says.
Boys exposed to violent media between ages 3 and 5 are more likely to develop aggressive and antisocial behaviors by the time they turn 15, researchers report.
"Our study provides compelling evidence that early childhood exposure to media violence can have serious, long-lasting consequences, particularly for boys," lead researcher Linda Pagani, a professor of psychoeducation with the University of Montreal, said in a news release.
The findings are particularly concerning given the boom in fast-paced, action-packed superhero movies like the recently released "Captain America: Brave New World."
Children "are attracted to fast-paced, stimulating violent content, which often features appealing characters like superheroes who commit and are rewarded for aggressive acts, thus increasing the likelihood of exposure," the researchers wrote in their paper, which appears in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
For the study, researchers analyzed data from 963 girls and 982 boys born in 1997 and 1998, all of whom are taking part in a Quebec-based long-term study of child development.
Parents reported how frequently their child was exposed to violent TV shows when the kids were around 3 to 5 years old.
Once the kids turned 15, they filled out a questionnaire designed to evaluate their mental health and behaviors.
Teenage boys who'd watched more violent TV as preschoolers were more likely to report that they'd engaged in:
Proactive aggression - hitting or threatening to hit someone to gain something from them.
Physical aggression - engaging in fights, cyberbullying, insults or threats.
Antisocial behavior - conduct that caused them to run afoul of the law.
Such behaviors can "snowball over time," researchers wrote, and "often persist into adulthood, with youth displaying the highest levels being four to five times more likely to develop disruptive behaviors and emotional disorders."
Pagani said this underscores an "urgent need for public health initiatives that target campaigns to inform parents and communities about the long-term risks, and empowers them to make informed choices about young children's screen content exposure."
TV violence did not appear to affect girls' behavior, possibly because they don't watch as much fast-paced, violence-packed shows and movies as boys, researchers noted.
More information
The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry has more on TV violence and children.
SOURCE: University of Montreal, news release, Jan 22. 2025
What This Means For You
Parents should keep an eye on the sort of TV their preschoolers are watching, as the content might have an impact on their development.