title: Fear effects by the media.
abstract: Both news media and entertainment fiction may lead to short-term and enduring fright reactions. Even TV programs, movies and news made for children may trigger fear. Preoperational children (3 to 7 years of age) are most afraid of fantasy characters, transformations and interpersonal violence. Operational children (8 to 11 years) are more afraid of abstract ideas and imagined implications regarding their own risk. Pediatricians must include media in their history taking and beware of ensuing fear, phobias, sleep and behavior problems. Parents can play a vital role in preventing exposure to or mediating the effects of frightening media. Hospitals must have a pediatric media exposure policy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Media use can have immediate and enduring fear effects that affect many children and that are far from trivial.
authors: Leuven School for Mass Communication Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Parkstraat 45, Box 3603, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. kathleen.custers@soc.kuleuven.be
authors: Kathleen
authors: K
authors: Custers
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Van den Bulck
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001519:Behavior; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005239:Fear; D006801:Humans; D008091:Literature; D008402:Mass Media; D010290:Parents