How family conflict moderates the relationship between media violence and adolescents' aggression

This study investigated the joint effect of violent media exposure and family conflict on adolescents’ aggression using data from a longitudinal study with 499 Dutch 10- to 14-year-olds. High violent media exposure in combination with high family conflict was expected to lead to increased levels of aggression (a double dose effect), whereas high violent media exposure in combination with low family conflict was expected to lead to lower levels of aggression (a buffer effect). It was also expected that the joint effect of media violence and family conflict on aggression would differ by gender. Results provide support for the double dose and buffer effects of family conflict; gender was not found to moderate this interaction. Implications are discussed.