Effect of visual media use on school performance: a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To identify mechanisms for the impact of visual media use on adolescents' school performance.


METHODS
We conducted a 24-month, four-wave longitudinal telephone study of a national sample of 6,486 youth aged 10 to 14 years. Exposure measures: latent construct for screen exposure time (weekday time spent viewing television/playing videogames, presence of television in bedroom) and variables for movie content (proportion of PG-13 and R movies viewed).


METHODS
self- and parent reports of grades in school. Effects of media exposures on change in school performance between baseline and 24 months were assessed using structural equation modeling. Information about hypothesized mediators (substance use, sensation seeking, and school problem behavior) was obtained at baseline and at the 16-month follow-up.


RESULTS
Adjusted for baseline school performance, baseline levels of mediators, and a range of covariates, both screen exposure time and media content had adverse effects on change in school performance. Screen exposure had an indirect effect on poor school performance through increased sensation seeking. Viewing more PG-13 and R-rated movies had indirect effects on poor school performance mediated through increases in substance use and sensation seeking. R-rated viewing also had an indirect effect on poor school performance through increased school behavior problems. The effect sizes of exposure time and content on the intermediate variables and ultimately on school performance were similar to those for previously recognized determinants of these mediators, including household income, parenting style, and adolescents' self-control.


CONCLUSIONS
These aspects of visual media use adversely affect school performance by increasing sensation seeking, substance use, and school problem behavior.
Sharif
Iman
I
Thomas Jefferson University Medical School, Nemours/A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware 19803, USA. isharif@nemours.org
Wills
Thomas A
TA
Sargent
James D
JD
D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009040:Motion Pictures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012574:Schools; D012919:Social Behavior; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018910:Video Games / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014741:Video Recording / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*