Life Without TV? Cultivation Theory and Psychosocial Health Characteristics of Television-Free Individuals and Their Television-Viewing Counterparts

Abstract

Much attention has been paid to the amount of time Americans spend watching television. Cultivation theory has been important in exploring behavioral effects of television viewing for many years. However, psychosocial health has received much less scrutiny in relation to television viewing time. This investigation examined the hypotheses that television-free individuals and viewers adhering to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations (up to 2 hr of viewing per day) would display a more positive psychosocial health profile when compared with more frequent television viewers. Results confirmed the hypothesis for women, but not for men. Our analysis showed that moderate television viewing, as defined by the AAP, provides a similar relation with psychosocial health as being television-free. Results are discussed in a cultivation theory framework.

Correlates of Television Viewing Among African American and Caucasian Women

“…Associations between sedentary behavior and feeling depressed, anxious, and stressed have been reported in adults (Sanchez-Villegas et al, 2008;Hammermeister et al, 2005). In a cross-sectional study, women who watched more than 2 hours of TV per day were found to have higher loneliness, hopelessness, shyness, depression, and tendency toward eating disorders; and lower self-esteem, weight satisfaction, perceived attractiveness, and life satisfaction (Hammermeister et al, 2005).…”

“…Associations between sedentary behavior and feeling depressed, anxious, and stressed have been reported in adults (Sanchez-Villegas et al, 2008;Hammermeister et al, 2005). In a cross-sectional study, women who watched more than 2 hours of TV per day were found to have higher loneliness, hopelessness, shyness, depression, and tendency toward eating disorders; and lower self-esteem, weight satisfaction, perceived attractiveness, and life satisfaction (Hammermeister et al, 2005). In a 6-year prospective cohort study, baseline levels of greater leisure time, physical activity was associated with a lower risk of incident depression, anxiety, or stress; while the highest level of sedentary behavior, at baseline, was associated with a greater risk of incident depression, anxiety, or stress (Sanchez-Villegas et al, 2008).…”

The Political Economy of Shariah Compliant Ads on TVAl Hijrah

“…According to the Cultivation Theory stated that the continuous exposure for 2 hours or more than 4 hours on a specific message from the media can influence and change the opinion, attitude and behaviour of a person (Hammermeister, Brock, Winterstein & Page, 2005). Thus, based on the theories, Islamic Absorption Values Policy (1985) can be used as a basis to Malaysian audience so that the exposure to Sharia compliant advertising certainly will cultivate the good moral values within the audience.…”

Relationship Between Using Television and Behavioral Problems of Pre-School Children

“…In addition, several cultivating theorists argued that television has long-term, gradual, indirect but dense and accumulated effects. They emphasized that watching television has more attitudinal effects than behavioral effects [14,[16][17][18]. The use and gratification theory is based on the concept of audience activity, which means voluntary orientation of audiences in the selection of media, and refers to motivation based on needs and goals stated by the audience [19,20].…”