The Dangerous World of Television

A Content Analysis of Physical Injuries in Children's Television Programming

Abstract

Characteristics of physical injuries were examined in a content analysis of children's television programs. A sample of 57 programs was coded for type of injury, cause of injury, severity of injury consequences, others' responses to injury victim, and victim characteristics. Results indicated arate of 15 injuries per hour, with significant differences in injury rate according to program time-slot. The majority of injuries resulted from impacts with objects, were intentionally caused, had only minor consequences, and were not followed by any response from other characters. Victims of injury were usually adult males or animal characters. Implications of the findings are discussed within acontext of social learning of injury information by child viewers.