Is the Influence of Media Violence Exposure on Adolescent Physical Aggression Moderated by Exposure to Real-Life Violence?

Research illustrates a consistent link between adolescent exposure to media violence and involvement in physical aggression. Less is known, however, about how real-life violence exposure might moderate this link. Guided by Cultivation theory and the Differential Susceptibility hypothesis, the present study analyzed cross-sectional data from 345 middle-schoolers to examine the moderating effect of real-life violence exposure (i.e., in the adolescent’s home and community) on the relation between media (i.e., TV/movies, internet, videogames) violence exposure and physical aggression. We also examined if the direct and/or interactive effects of media violence exposure and real-life violence exposure on physical aggression varied across males and females. We found significant direct effects of media violence exposure (for all three media types) on both measures of physical aggression, as well as significant direct effects of real-life violence exposure (family conflict, community violence) on physical aggression. We also found a significant interaction such that the effect of internet violence exposure on involvement in physical fights was contingent on levels of community violence exposure for male adolescents in our sample. The direct effect of videogame violence on involvement in physical fights was significant in case of females only. By examining the moderating effect of real-life violence, especially community violence exposure, the present study advances our understanding of media effects on adolescent aggression, and helps identify those who might be at greater risk.2022-02-2