TV watching and trauma

Interesting - they state that the high viewing group may be self-medicating with TV, which is a fair point.

But of course, we have to remember that the single aim of many TV programs is to cause emotional arousal in the viewer. Higher general emotional arousal will tend to make you more prone to becoming traumatised by anxiety-provoking experiences, or quicker to 'snap' in anger-provoking ones.

Add to that the likely decreased sleep, both through staying up late through watching TV and increased REM due to emotional arousal caused by the programs watched, and you have a potent brew for emotional problems.

hello!

That was a nice piece of study!
I am no expert in psychology research and stuff but I just want to ask which one causes which?

Could it be that the children watch TV all the time BECAUSE they already have emotional problems? Could it be that what they watch reflects what they feel? For instance children watch violence-filled programs because they feel much anger deep inside?