Summary: A longitudinal study of nearly 2,000 children found that boys who were regularly exposed to violent television content between ages 3.5 and 4.5 were more likely to report antisocial behaviors in mid-adolescence. These behaviors included physical aggression, theft, threats, involvement in gang fights and weapon use. The study found no comparable long-term associations among girls.
The results indicate that early exposure to fast-paced, reward-based violent media can have durable consequences for boys. The authors recommend public health campaigns to inform parents and communities about the potential long-term risks of violent media exposure during early childhood and to promote preventive strategies.
Key facts
- Gender-specific effects: Exposure to violent television in preschool predicted later antisocial outcomes for boys but not for girls.
- Types of behavior linked: Predicted outcomes included proactive and physical aggression, stealing, threats and involvement in group fights; weapon use was also among the behaviors associated with early exposure.
- Prevention priority: The study highlights the opportunity for targeted public health messaging and parental guidance to limit young children’s exposure to violent screen content.
Source: University of Montreal
Overview of the research
Led by Linda Pagani, Professor at the Université de Montréal’s School of Psychoeducation, the study examined long-term associations between preschool exposure to televised violence and antisocial behavior more than a decade later. The research focused on typically developing, middle-class children, a population chosen because they generally have lower baseline risks for aggressive or harmful behaviors, making observed associations with media exposure clearer.
Pagani and colleagues note that prior experimental evidence has shown immediate increases in aggression when children observe modeled violence that is rewarded. However, few investigations have followed children into adolescence to assess whether early exposure predicts later antisocial outcomes. This study addresses that gap by following participants from preschool into mid-adolescence.
Study sample and measures
Researchers used data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD), including 963 girls and 982 boys born in 1997–1998. Parents reported how often their child was exposed to violent television content at ages 3.5 and 4.5. At age 15, participants self-reported four indicators of antisocial behavior, covering proactive aggression, physical aggression, general antisocial acts and related behaviors.
The study defined screen violence broadly to include physical, verbal and relational aggression—scenes or interactions where characters intentionally harm others. The team emphasized that young children are often drawn to fast-paced, stimulating violent programming, including portrayals of attractive characters such as superheroes who commit aggressive acts and are rewarded for them, which may increase exposure and normalization.
Analyses were stratified by sex and controlled for a range of pre-existing and concurrent individual and family factors to reduce the likelihood that other variables accounted for the observed associations.
Main findings
For boys, greater preschool exposure to televised violence predicted higher levels of proactive aggression, physical aggression and broader antisocial behaviors by mid-adolescence. The reported statistical associations remained after adjusting for confounding factors. For girls, the study did not find prospective associations between early violent televiewing and adolescent antisocial outcomes.
The observed outcomes for boys included behaviors such as hitting or beating another person, stealing to obtain something, issuing threats or insults, participating in group fights and, in some instances, weapon use. The absence of similar findings for girls may reflect sex differences in exposure patterns and susceptibility, as boys in this cohort were generally more likely to view violent content in early childhood.
Implications and recommendations
The authors conclude that early childhood exposure to violent television is a modifiable risk factor with potential long-term effects on boys’ behavior. They recommend preventive intervention campaigns focused on educating parents, caregivers and communities about the potential harms of violent media exposure for young children and offering practical guidance for selecting age-appropriate content and supervising screen time.
Careful avoidance of violent media for preschool-aged children, along with informed parental choices and community-level awareness efforts, are presented as promising strategies to reduce the risk of later aggression and delinquent behaviors.
About the study and authors
The article, titled “Prospective Associations Between Preschool Exposure to Violent Televiewing and Externalizing Behavior in Middle Adolescent Boys and Girls,” was published on January 20, 2025, in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Linda Pagani is the lead author and a researcher at the Centre de recherche Azrieli du CHU Sainte-Justine and the School Environment Research Group. Graduate students Amélie Gilker-Beauchamp, Laurie-Anne Kosak and Kianoush Harandian contributed to the work. Claudio Longobardi (University of Turin) and senior author Eric F. Dubow (Bowling Green State University) are co-authors on the paper.
Funding and acknowledgments
This research used data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development and was supported by several Quebec institutions and foundations. The authors acknowledge the participation of parents, teachers and children in the cohort and the agencies that supported data collection and storage.
About this psychology and neurodevelopment research news
Author: Julie Gazaille
Source: University of Montreal
Contact: Julie Gazaille – University of Montreal
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access. “Prospective Associations Between Preschool Exposure to Violent Televiewing and Externalizing Behavior in Middle Adolescent Boys and Girls” by Linda Pagani et al., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Abstract
Prospective Associations Between Preschool Exposure to Violent Televiewing and Externalizing Behavior in Middle Adolescent Boys and Girls
Objective.
Early childhood exposure to violent media is an actionable target for prevention. While short-term links between modeled and rewarded violence and increased aggression in young children are documented, few studies examine long-term associations with antisocial behavior. This research investigates prospective links between early exposure to televised violence and antisocial behavior in mid-adolescence.
Method.
Participants were 963 girls and 982 boys from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development. Parents reported their child’s exposure to violent television at ages 3.5 and 4.5. At age 15, participants self-reported four indicators of antisocial behavior. Analyses were stratified by sex and controlled for a range of individual and family confounds.
Results.
Among boys, preschool violent televiewing was associated with increases in proactive aggression, physical aggression and broader antisocial behavior by mid-adolescence. No prospective associations were observed for girls.
Conclusions.
This study of typically developing children highlights long-term risks linked to early exposure to violent television content. Findings point to increased risks of aggressive and delinquent behavior in boys more than a decade later. Preventive campaigns that inform parents and communities about the potential long-term consequences of preschool exposure to violent media could support healthier youth development.