The role of media exposure on relational aggression: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Abstract We conducted a meta-analysis of 33 studies that examined the effects of media exposure on relationally aggressive behaviors and cognitions (a total of 66 effect sizes, N\u202f=\u202f(20,990). Across all types of aggressive content, there was a small positive effect (r\u202f=\u202f0.15) on relational aggression. However, a comparison of effects sizes demonstrate that exposure to relational aggression had the strongest effect (r\u202f=\u202f0.21), whereas exposure to non-specific media content had the weakest effect (r\u202f=\u202f0.08). Exposure to physical aggression fell in the middle of the two content types (r\u202f=\u202f0.15). Potential explanations for these effects as well as moderators that could influence the results are considered, and the practical implications of these findings are discussed.