Measuring Exposure to Media with Antisocial and Prosocial Content: An Extended Version of the Content-based Media Exposure Scale (C-ME2)

Abstract

The present research developed a measure for exposure to both antisocial and prosocial media content by revising and extending a previous Contentbased Media Exposure Scale (C-ME). The validity and reliability of the C-ME2 was tested in two independent samples (N = 678), among young adults (Study 1) and adolescents (Study 2). Results of Confirmatory Factor Analyses showed good fit, in both studies, for both antisocial and prosocial dimensions of media content, and for both males and females. Furthermore, the C-ME2 explains unique variance beyond previous measures of violent and general media exposure. Evidence is presented of reliability, discriminant and predictive validity of the C-ME2, measuring both frequency and exposure to specific content of media. The C-ME2 covers all media platforms, is easy to use in all research designs, and allows for standardization and systematic comparisons across studies. Antisocial and risk behaviors (e.g., swearing, stealing, fighting, binge drinking) are frequently depicted in the media. This type of media is also popular among youth and they are especially susceptible to its negative influence (e.g.,

Emotion Recognition and Inhibitory Control in Adolescent Players of Violent Video Games

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“…Trait sensation seeking. Trait sensation seeking was measured with a questionnaire of Stephenson, Hoyle, Palmgreen, and Slater (2003) with three added items (e.g., 'I wish my life was more exciting') in Dutch translation (den Hamer et al, 2017). Scale ranged from 1 (does not describe me at all) to 5 (describes me very well); Cronbach's alpha = .88.…”

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