Which came first? Assessing transactional relationships between children’s violent media use and ADHD-related behaviors

This longitudinal study investigated transactional relationships between violent media use and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)–related behaviors among young children (ages 4-8 years). To investigate study hypotheses, we employed a random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) using structural equation modeling with panel data from 890 children. Results provided evidence in support of a media selection process rather than media effects process, whereby an increase in a child’s ADHD-related behaviors predicted an increase in the child’s violent media use 1 year later. Results indicated that this longitudinal relationship was accounted for by within-child fluctuations over time rather than stable between-child differences. The findings highlight the importance of investigating transactional relationships as well as distinguishing between-person and within-person relationships.