Association between violent cartoons and child aggression: a descriptive-correlational study in Ecuador

Abstract

This study arose from the following research question: What is the link between exposure to violent cartoon content and the manifestation of aggressive behavior in 5-year-old children? This issue is relevant in the Ecuadorian context, given the growing presence of unregulated audiovisual content in the daily routines of preschool-aged children. Objective of the study: The main objective was to identify the relationship between the consumption of cartoons with violent content and aggressive behavior in 5-year-old children within an Ecuadorian educational setting. Methodology: The scientific method was applied as the general basis for the research process, specifically employing a descriptive approach. Regarding the methodological design, a descriptive correlational design was used to establish associations between variables. The study population consisted of 27 5-year-old boys and girls, who represented both the sample and the universe under investigation. Techniques and instruments: The selected technique was psychometrics. The instruments used were a survey to assess the level of exposure to violent cartoons and an observation log to document aggressive behavior observed in the participants. Results: The findings showed that 63% of the children had low levels of exposure to violent cartoons, while 37% had average exposure. It is noteworthy that no cases of high exposure were identified. Despite the relatively low levels of exposure, statistical analyses showed a positive and significant correlation between exposure to these contents and aggressive behavior, with a Spearman's rho coefficient of 0.388. Conclusion: It is concluded that, in the Ecuadorian context, exposure to violent cartoons significantly influences the development of aggressive behavior in five-year-old children. This result highlights the need to implement educational and media policies aimed at regulating children's audiovisual content and providing parental support during the consumption of this type of media.