The Influence of New Media and Family Structure on Young Adolescents' Television and Radio Use

Abstract

A survey of 2,056 12- to 14-year-olds from 10 southeastern U.S. cities showed that Blacks and girls spent more time with television and radio than Whites and boys did; television use declined with age, whereas radio use increased. Access to cable television and videocassette recorders was not related to frequency of television or radio use. Lack of access to parents, either because the mother was employed or because no father was in the home, generally increased the time that adolescents spent with radio and television.