Parent and Child Perspectives on the Presence and Meaning of Parental Television Mediation

Abstract A survey of 394 parents and second- through sixth-grade children was conducted to understand why parents mediate violent television and how children interpret mediation messages. The study found that parents with negative attitudes toward violent television used active and restrictive mediation and parents with positive attitudes used coviewing. According to children, restrictive mediation signaled parental disapproval of the content but active mediation and coviewing served as endorsements.