Too much TV Encourage Antisocial Behavior?

Children and teenagers who watch too much television was likely to have antisocial and criminal behavior later in life. The results of the research of University of Otago in New Zealand, published in the journal Pediatrics this week, based on observations of the growth of a thousand children born in the city of Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1972-1973.

Children and adolescents who watch a lot of television are more likely to manifest antisocial and criminal behaviour when they become adults, according to a new study. (Picture from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/)

Every two years, a group of children aged 5 to 15 years were asked how much they watch television. Bob Hancox from the Preventive and Social Medicine Department at the University of Otago, said he and his team found that the risk of children was charged with engaging in criminal activity as an adult increased by 30 percent for every hour the child spends in front of the television.

The study also found that much TV in childhood is associated with aggressive personality traits as adults, the increasing tendency of experiencing negative emotions, and increases the risk of antisocial personality disorder. Psychiatric disorder is characterized by a pattern of antisocial and aggressive behavior are persistent.

Researchers found that the relationship between television viewing and antisocial behavior can not be explained by socio-economic status, parenting factors, or aggressive and antisocial behavior in childhood.

Lindsay Robertson, the researcher who involved in this study, said the findings are not about antisocial children who watch more television. "Rather, children who watch too much television are likely to develop personality traits and antisocial behavior," she said.

Antisocial behavior is a major problem for society. "Although we are not saying that television causes antisocial behavior, our findings suggest that reducing television viewing time can lower levels of antisocial behavior," said Hancox.

American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children watch television programs only qualified for 1 or 2 hours each day. The researchers said their findings support the idea that parents should try to limit their children's television time. *** [SCIENCEDAILY | TJANDRA DEWI | KORAN TEMPO 4148]

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