A Meta-Analysis of Age and Gender Differences in Children’s Media-Induced Fright

Age and gender differences in children’s media-induced fear were investigated in this meta-analysis of 18 studies. It was found that younger children reported more fright than did older children, and that females were more responsive to frightening media messages than were males. In addition, age differences were further examined via looking at a series of moderator variables, including themes of the events in the media presentation, possibility of events, types of fear, modes of measures of fear, study methodologies, data sources, media forms, and media functions.

Publisher: Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Sheraton New York, New York City, NY
Year of Publication: 2009