title: Profanity in media associated with attitudes and behavior regarding profanity use and aggression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesized that exposure to profanity in media would be directly related to beliefs and behavior regarding profanity and indirectly to aggressive behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined these associations among 223 adolescents attending a large Midwestern middle school. Participants completed a number of questionnaires examining their exposure to media, attitudes and behavior regarding profanity, and aggressive behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results revealed a positive association between exposure to profanity in multiple forms of media and beliefs about profanity, profanity use, and engagement in physical and relational aggression. Specifically, attitudes toward profanity use mediated the relationship between exposure to profanity in media and subsequent behavior involving profanity use and aggression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main hypothesis was confirmed, and implications for the rating industry and research field are discussed.
authors: School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA. smcoyne@byu.edu
authors: Sarah M
authors: SM
authors: Coyne
authors: Laura A
authors: LA
authors: Stockdale
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Nelson
authors: Ashley
authors: A
authors: Fraser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D000378:Agonistic Behavior; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States