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Developmental Associations Between Media Use and Adolescent Prosocial Behavior
Caroline Fitzpatrick1, Elroy Boers2
1Universite Sainte-Anne, Church Point, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Summary
Adolescent screen media use, including internet, video games, and television, is linked to decreased prosocial behavior. This study highlights how digital media consumption can negatively impact the development of positive social behaviors in teenagers.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Media Psychology
- Adolescent Behavior
Background:
- Adolescents spend significant time engaging with digital media.
- Understanding the impact of screen time on social development is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental associations between screen media use (internet, video games, television) and prosocial behavior in adolescents aged 15 to 17.
- To determine how different types of media consumption influence changes in prosocial behavior over time.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 1,509 adolescents from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development.
- Self-reported data on internet use, video game use, television/movie viewing, and prosocial behavior at ages 15 and 17.
- Multilevel linear modeling to analyze within-person, between-person, and lagged effects.
Main Results:
- Higher internet and video game use were associated with lower prosocial behavior at within-person and lagged-person levels.
- Television use also showed lagged-person effects, negatively impacting prosocial behavior.
- Internet and television use explained differences in prosocial behavior between individuals.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent screen media use, encompassing internet, video games, and television, can undermine the development of prosocial behavior.
- The findings suggest a negative impact of digital media consumption on the cultivation of positive social behaviors during teenage years.
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