Friendly fire: Longitudinal effects of exposure to violent video games on aggressive behavior in adolescent friendship dyads

Research on gaming effects has focused on adolescence, a developmental period in which peer relationships become increasingly salient. However, the impact of peers on the effects of violent gaming on adolescents has been understudied. This study examined whether adolescents’ exposure to violent vide...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Aggressive behavior 2018-05, Vol.44 (3), p.257-267
Main Authors: Verheijen, Geert P., Burk, William J., Stoltz, Sabine E. M. J., van den Berg, Yvonne H. M., Cillessen, Antonius H. N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adolescence
Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior - psychology
Adolescents
Aggression
Aggression - psychology
Aggressive behavior
Aggressiveness
Computer & video games
Developmental stages
Female
Friends - psychology
Friendship
Humans
Interdependence
Interpersonal Relations
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Nominations
Original
peer influences
Peer relationships
Peers
Teenagers
video games
Video Games - psychology
Violence
Violent adolescents
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Summary:Research on gaming effects has focused on adolescence, a developmental period in which peer relationships become increasingly salient. However, the impact of peers on the effects of violent gaming on adolescents has been understudied. This study examined whether adolescents’ exposure to violent video games predicted their own and their friend's aggression one year later. Among 705 gaming adolescents, 141 dyads were identified based on reciprocated best friend nominations (73.8% male, Mage = 13.98). Actor‐Partner Interdependence Models indicated that adolescent males’ (but not females’) exposure to violent games positively predicted the aggression of their best friend 1 year later. This effect appeared regardless of whether the friends played video games together or not. The study illustrates the importance of peers in the association between violent gaming and aggression.
ISSN:0096-140X
1098-2337
DOI:10.1002/ab.21748