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Adolescent exposure to extremely violent movies
James D Sargent1, Todd F Heatherton, M Bridget Ahrens
1Department of Pediatrics, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. james.sargent@hitchcock.org
Summary
Young adolescents are widely exposed to extremely violent movies, with 28% seeing at least one. Higher exposure is linked to older age, male gender, lower socioeconomic status, and poorer school performance.
Area of Science:
- Media Studies
- Adolescent Health
- Film Analysis
Background:
- Adolescents are a vulnerable demographic for media influence.
- Understanding media consumption patterns is crucial for public health initiatives.
- Previous research has not extensively quantified exposure to extremely violent films among young adolescents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the extent of exposure among young adolescents to extremely violent movies.
- To identify characteristics associated with exposure to violent films in this age group.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional school-based survey was conducted in 15 middle schools across New Hampshire and Vermont.
- 5,456 students completed surveys listing 50 randomly selected movies from top box office hits (1988-1999).
- Content analysis identified 51 extremely violent films; exposure was measured by self-report.
Main Results:
- On average, 28% of students reported seeing at least one extremely violent movie (range 4%-66%).
- Popular violent films like "Scream" were seen by two-thirds of students; R-rated films with sexualized violence were also common.
- Older students, males, those of lower socioeconomic status, and poorer academic performers were more likely to be exposed.
Conclusions:
- Widespread exposure to brutal and sexualized violent movies among young adolescents is documented.
- Marketing practices of the film industry targeting teens warrant further scrutiny and potential oversight.