Title

Who Talks How to Their Kids About TV: A Clarification of Demographic Correlates of Parental Mediation Patterns

Publication Date

9-1-1997

Document Type

Article

Abstract

A random telephone survey (N = 255) of Washington state parents of children between the ages of 2 and 17 assesses parents' reported patterns of interaction with their children regarding television, along with parental viewing habits and perceptions of television content. Demographic differences in mediation and coviewing patterns, as well as parental attitudes toward television, are explored, and explanations for these differences are considered. It is concluded that education is a weak predictor of mediation levels, single parents do not differ from dual parents in attitudes about television, and that the negative relationship of income to positive mediation and use of television as a babysitter is related more to overall viewing patterns and environmental constraints, rather than to attitudinal differences. It is suggested that demographics hold little value jar explaining why and how parents hold particular attitudes or engage in particular behaviors relevant to television and parenting.

Publication Title

Communication Research Reports

Volume

14

Issue

4

First Page

418

Last Page

430

DOI

10.1080/08824099709388685

Publisher Policy

pre-print, post-print (with 18 month embargo)

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