The Short-Term Effects of Viewing Relationally Aggressive Media on Hostile Cognitions in College Women

Correlational and experimental research indicates that relationally aggressive media exposure is associated with increased aggression (e.g., Coyne, Archer, & Eslea, 2004; Coyne et al., 2008; 2011). The General Aggression Model (GAM) (Anderson & Bushman, 2002) suggests that cognitions about aggression mediate the relationship between aggressive media exposure and subsequent behavior, but little research has examined this possibility in regards to relationally aggressive media. The goals of this study were (1) to examine the short-term effects of viewing relationally aggressive media on hostile response generation in women, and (2) to examine whether pre-existing relational aggression moderates these effects. 158 college women were randomly assigned to view either a relationally aggressive or neutral movie clip. After viewing, participants read 5 vignettes that described interpersonal conflicts, and then were asked to generate a behavioral response to each scenario. There was a significant interaction of type of movie clip viewed and pre-existing relational aggression. Specifically, watching the relationally aggressive movie clip caused participants who were high on relational aggression to generate significantly more hostile responses than those low on relational aggression. These findings provide evidence that relationally aggressive media exposure affects cognitive processes underlying aggressive behavior, but that these short-term effects are moderated by individual differences in aggression. Implications for future research are discussed

“Here I Come to Save the Day!” Does Parental Mediation Moderate Associations between Superhero Exposure and Behavior in Young Boys?

Studies have shown that superheroes are very popular among preschool boys, but research on the effect of exposure to superhero media and toys is limited. Superheroes frequently use aggression to defend others, and certain characteristics of superheroes encourage wishful identification among boys. However, it is unknown whether superhero exposure and identification is associated with aggression, prosocial behaviors, or behaviors with the purpose of defending others. Parental active mediation of media (i.e discussions of media content) can reduce the negative effects of aggressive content by modifying children’s perceptions of aggression. This study aimed to examine the associations between superhero exposure/identification and aggressive, prosocial, and defending behavior in preschool boys and to examine whether parental active mediation of television content moderates these associations. Sixty-four parents of preschool boys (mean age = 60.6 months) completed measures of their child’s superhero identification/exposure, their own active mediation, and their child’s aggressive and prosocial behaviors. Results revealed that superhero exposure and identification was associated with decreased prosocial behavior and increased verbal aggression. These associations were not moderated by active parental mediation. Additionally, low levels of parental mediation, combined with high levels of superhero identification/exposure were positively correlated with aggressive defending behaviors. Future research should examine gender and age differences in the associations between superhero exposure and behavior. Additionally, questions remain about the differential effects of discussing media content with preschoolers, as this form of mediation may be less effective for certain types of programs during the preschool years. Additional keywords: early childhoo

A SEQUENTIAL CHOICE MODEL OF RECREATION BEHAVIOR

The travel cost model is the standard model used in the recreation demand literature. This model assumes that the decision on the number of trips to a particular site in a given period (a season, for example) is determined at the beginning of the period. For certain types of recreation activity, this decision may be more appropriately modeled as a sequential process, in which the decision of whether or not to take each additional trip is made after previous trips have occurred. This decision is dependent on the realization of random variables on previous trips as well as travel costs. A model is developed in which the choice of a discrete number of sequentially chosen trips to a given site is specified as function of site-specific variables and variables realized on previous trips. This models advantage over the traditional travel cost model is that it specifies discrete, nonnegative integer values for the number of trips and allows intraseasonal effects to determine the probability of taking each additional trip.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

The Role of Felt or Enacted Criticism in Parents' Decision Making in Differing Contexts and Communities : Toward a Formal Grounded Theory

Felt or enacted criticism was identified as a significant influence on White British parents' decision making during acute childhood illness in a substantive grounded theory "Containing acute childhood illness within family life." These parents sought to avoid further criticism, sometimes leading to delayed consultation. Using Glaserian grounded theory principles, we conducted a secondary analysis of data from three studies, to establish the transferability and modifiability of the original theory to other settings and communities in Ireland and England. Felt or enacted criticism was found to operate across the childhood age range, social groups, and settings. Parent's strategies to avoid criticism reduced contacts with health professionals, access to support and, more worryingly, communication about their child's health. These findings demonstrate the wider applicability, or "work" in Glaser's terms, of the concept in the English speaking Western world. Findings indicate the need for nurses to identify and mitigate sources of criticism

Diagnosis of uterine torsion during cesarean section: a case series

Partial rotation of the uterus up to 45 degrees is a common physiological finding during pregnancy whereas uterine torsion is pathologic and defined as rotation greater than 45 degrees. Torsion of up to 720 degrees has been reported; with most cases occurring between 90 degrees and 180 degrees. While uterine torsion in pregnancy requires emergent intervention, the incidence is unknown. Most cases of uterine torsion are diagnosed intra-operatively at emergent cesarean section following non-specific clinical presentation, such as fetal heart rate decelerations or bradycardia, severe abdominal pain, hypotension, or vaginal bleeding. In this case series, we report on two cases of one woman with gravid uterine levorotation of 180 degrees and another with gravid uterine dextrorotation of 180 degrees

ABCs or Attack-Boom-Crash? A longitudinal analysis of associations between media content and the development of problematic media use in early childhood.

Researchers have begun to extensively examine pathological (or addictive-like) media use during adolescence and adulthood. However, few studies have examined precursors to these types of behavior (termed problematic media use) in early childhood, with even fewer examining predictors of this behavior over time. The current longitudinal study examined bi-directional associations between television content (educational, prosocial, and violence) and problematic media use over a 1-year period during early childhood. Participants included 443 children (M age at Wave 1 = 29.68 months) and their parents. Results revealed that early educational media was protective against developing problematic media use over time. However, early problematic media use was not predictive of future media content choices longitudinally. Additionally, problematic media use was moderately stable over time. Implications for parents and policy makers regarding the importance of early media content for later outcomes and consideration of media use trajectories are discussed

Parental psychological control dimensions: Connections with Russian preschoolers\u27 physical and relational aggression

Parental psychological control generally consists of overinvolved/protective and critical/rejecting elements, both being linked to children\u27s psychosocial maladjustment. The critical/rejecting element is multidimensional in nature, and few studies have explored this conceptual fullness. It is possible that some dimensions, if they can be statistically differentiated, are uniquely tied to various child behaviors. This may help resolve some of the inconsistency apparent across studies, such as studies of relational aggression. Accordingly, we examined the association between parental psychological control and childhood physical and relational aggression using a dimensional approach. Participants were 204 Russian preschoolers and their parents. The results revealed that dimensions of psychosocial control (i.e., shaming/disappointment, constraining verbal expressions, invalidating feelings, love withdrawal, and guilt induction) could be statistically differentiated, even though most dimensions tended to be significantly correlated. Furthermore, all dimensions, except for invalidating feelings, were significantly associated with childhood aggression, but predominantly in same-gender parent-child dyads. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.

Problematic media use in early childhood: The role of parent-child relationships and parental wellbeing in families in New Zealand and the United States.

Problematic media use (PMU) during early childhood has the potential to interfere with the healthy functioning of family systems and may be associated with significant long-term problems for the child. However, we know very little about what contributes to early childhood PMU, particularly in the family context. We examine parenting factors as correlates of child PMU in two studies, from two different countries, using two different methods. Study 1 (N=93, Mage=45.3months, SD=10.15, 58%males, 87%mothers) investigated the concurrent role of self-reported parental burnout and parent-child conflict and closeness as correlates of child PMU in an early childhood sample in New Zealand. Study 2 (N=269, Mage=41.17months, SD=3.06 months, 49%males, 95%mothers) investigated observed parental warmth and harsh criticism as predictors of concurrent and longitudinal PMU in an early childhood sample in the United States. Together, findings showed that in both countries approximately 22-25% of young children show symptoms of PMU. After controlling for parents PMU, parent-child conflict, warmth and parental burnout were not associated with child PMU. Low levels of parent-child closeness and parents use of harsh criticism were predictive of child PMU. The findings advance our understanding of some of the parenting factors that influence the development of PMU in young children

Corrigendum/Erratum to Teens, screens and quarantine; The relationship between adolescent media use and mental health prior to and during COVID-19 [Heliyon 8(7), July 2022 e09898].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09898.]