Autonomic reactivity to television viewing in preschoolers and its relationship to their anger assessment inventory score

Author

Michelle Deanne Howell

Date of Award

12-1988

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing

Major

Nursing

Major Professor

Maureen Groer

Committee Members

Pat Droppleman, Kathleen Lawler

Abstract

he purpose of this study was to examine the effect television may have on several physiological responses mediated by the autonomic nervous system and to assess the relationship between anger and these responses- A sample of preschoolers (N=18) ages A-6 years enrolled in day care programs in Knoxville, Tennessee were assessed with a 15- item Anger Assessment Inventory Scale by their teachers- This was followed by viewing approximately 10 minutes of network television programming consisting of both neutral and violent, aggressive content.

The mean age of the children was 4-6 years with 55-655 being male and 44-455 being female- Ninety-four percent of the population was black- The mean AAI score achieved on the scale was 36.5 +/- 3.8, with a median split of AAI scores yielded the two groups with means of 23.7 +/- 2.1 and 49.2 +/- 4.0.

The results of the study showed a significant main effects of condition in HR, condition and time in ST, and time alone in SBP- The main effect of condition (television content) supports the hypothesis that children are reactive to television and its content- The effect of time was also significant, although this probably was a result of habituation over the television viewing period- However, in the measurements observed in the split AAI groups (N=9/9) score was a main effect in both HR and SBP- These results suggest high anger children iv tend to be more reactive. Time and score were also a main effect in DBP, although Tukey's analysis failed to show the source of the interaction.

Overall, the study did show autonomic reactivity in the children in response to the television programming they viewed, with and without the effects of anger, and suggests that high anger children may be more reactive.

Recommended Citation

Howell, Michelle Deanne, "Autonomic reactivity to television viewing in preschoolers and its relationship to their anger assessment inventory score. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1988.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/13231