Impact of Media Violence among Adolescents and Influence on their Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors

S J Ajith; Arthika Ravichandran; Thamilselvan Palanichamy; V Archana; Manoj Kumar Sharma

S J Ajith I Year Post Graduation, Department of Psychology, PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India
Arthika Ravichandran Associate in Tax, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Thamilselvan Palanichamy Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India
V Archana II Year Post Graduation, Department of Psychology, PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India
Manoj Kumar Sharma Additional Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Keywords: Media Exposure, aggressive behavior, internalizing and externalizing behaviors

Abstract

Background: The adolescence current prevailing environment, television, movies, videos, video games, andcomputer networks have assumed vital roles in their daily activities. Over many years, exposure to violence on television and in video games increases the risk of violent behavior on the adolescents, growing up in an environment filled with real violence increases the risk of violent behavior. Aim: The present study aimed is to assess the impact of media violence among adolescents and influence on their internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Methods and Materials: 71 adolescents were selected randomly from the schools with the help of the teacher, those who have expose to media, screened and selected 31 (15 males, 16 females) adolescents within the age group of 12 to 18, data collected from the schools based on urban background using simple random sampling method. Results: There is significant relationship between Violent TV exposure with Withdrawn/depression, somatic complaints, thought problems, attention problems and other problems and relationally aggressive TV exposure with anxiety/depression, social problems and attention problems. Conclusion: The study concluded that there is significant relationship between aggressive behavior and media exposure. There is influence between internalizing and externalizing with media exposure.