We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
The Multiple Meanings of Age for Television Content Preferences.
- Authors
Mares, Marie-Louise; Ye Sun
- Abstract
Two studies examined how adult age and time of measurement influence media preferences. Study 1 (using TV ratings data from 1970s to 1980s) found that the popularity of genres varied over time, but even after controlling for year, age groups differed in (a) genre choices (consistent with socioemotional selectivity theory) and (b) age of characters viewed (consistent with age identity theory). The average age of characters in each program partially mediated age differences in ratings of comedies and news, and suppressed a negative relationship between viewer age and ratings of violent programs. Study 2 (using 2005 survey data) found similar genre and character preferences. In addition, subjective age predicted age of favorite characters beyond the effect of chronological age.
- Subjects
MASS media; TELEVISION programs; NONBOOK materials selection; CHOICE (Psychology); AGE differences; TELEVISION comedies; TELEVISION broadcasting of news; GROUP identity; CROSS-sectional method
- Publication
Human Communication Research, 2010, Vol 36, Issue 3, p372
- ISSN
0360-3989
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1468-2958.2010.01380.x