title: Media use and ADHD-related behaviors in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis.
abstract: There are several theoretical reasons to believe that media use might be related to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or ADHD-related behaviors (i.e., attention problems, hyperactivity, and impulsivity). Although studies into the media-ADHD relationship have accumulated, they have yielded inconsistent results. Therefore, we still do not know whether children's media use and ADHD-related behaviors are related and, if so, under which conditions. To fill this gap in the literature, we first identified 6 different hypotheses that may explain why media use in general and viewing fast-paced or violent media content might be related to 1 or more ADHD-related behaviors. Subsequently, we conducted a meta-analysis of 45 empirical studies investigating the relationship between media use and ADHD-related behaviors in children and adolescents. Our results indicated a small significant relationship between media use and ADHD-related behaviors (r+ = .12). Finally, we identified several specific gaps in the existing literature and presented 5 crucial directions for future research.
authors.affiliation: Amsterdam School of Communication Research ASCoR.
authors.forename: Sanne W C
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Nikkelen
authors.affiliation: Amsterdam School of Communication Research ASCoR.
authors.forename: Patti M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Valkenburg
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Neuroscience.
authors.forename: Mariette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huizinga
authors.affiliation: School of Communication.
authors.forename: Brad J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Bushman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003201:Computers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D018910:Video Games / Q000523:psychology