Read anything mean lately? Associations between reading aggression in books and aggressive behavior in adolescents

Keywords

books, novels, media, physical aggression, relational aggression, reading, adolescents

Abstract

Although there have been hundreds of studies on media violence, few have focused on literature, with none examining novels. Accordingly, the aim of the current study was to examine whether reading physical and relational aggression in books was associated with aggressive behavior in adolescents. Participants consisted of 223 adolescents who completed a variety of measures detailing their media use and aggressive behavior. A non‐recursive structural equation model revealed that reading aggression in books was positively associated with aggressive behavior, even after controlling for exposure to aggression in other forms of media. Associations were only found for congruent forms of aggression. Implications regarding books as a form of media are discussed. Aggr. Behav. 39:493–502, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Original Publication Citation

Stockdale, L., Coyne, S. M., Nelson, D. A., & Padilla-Walker, L. M. (2013). “Read anything mean lately”? Associations between reading aggression in books and aggressive behavior in adolescents. Aggressive Behavior, 39, 493-502.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2013-06-26

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5194

Publisher

Aggressive Behavior

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Link to Full Text

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