A first-of-its-kind, long-range US ...

A first-of-its-kind, long-range US study--reported in the March 29 2002 issue of Science--links television viewing in adolesence and young adulthood to violent behavior later in life.

Already sinewy evidence shows that prolonged exposing to violent television shows during childhood is associated with after aggression. The new study, however, clearly demonstrates this association in adolescents and young adults, thus broadening the range of individuals who are affected by way of media violence.

Researchers at Columbia University in modern York assessed television viewing and aggressive behavior above a 17-year period among 707 individuals. They conclud there is a significant association between the amount of time worn out watching television during adolescence and early adulthood and the likelihood of following serious acts of aggression--including robbery, assault and threats--before the ages of 22 for male childs or 30 for girls.

This association remains significant on a level after other factors--previous aggressive behavior, childhood leave on one side family income, neighborhood violence, parental education and psychiatric disorders--are controlled

A growing material substance of research suggests that children must be taught that real-life aggression actually damages people. As the American Academy of Pediatrics warned in the February 2001 issue of Pediatrics, many younger children cannot discriminate between what they behold on TV and what is real.

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