Take a deep breath: the effects of television exposure and family communication on family shopping-related stress

Abstract

Parents of children (age 2–12) participated in this study examining the influence of children’s television exposure on parent-reported child-initiated purchase requests and coercive behaviors and their subsequent effect on overall parental stress, a factor associated with reduced well-being. Using a general family systems framework, and Family Communication Patterns (FCP), we also examined how these consumer oriented communication patterns could help or harm family interactions and ultimately, parent stress. Results indicated that increased child television exposure was associated with increased child-purchase initiations and consumer related coercive behavior. Additionally, child coercive behavior and child purchase initiation was then associated with increased parental stress, which has a well-documented impact on both physical and emotional parent well-being. Lastly, increased collaborative communication had an exacerbating direct effect on parent stress; whereas, parents who engaged in more control oriented and advertising communication had children who were more likely to ask for more products and exhibit more coercive behaviors. Finally, the link between television exposure and coercive behavior was weaker in homes where parents engaged in more advertising focused communication. Thus, advertising can directly and indirectly influence parent stress; however, effects can be mitigated through constructive parental communication with children.

Disclosure statement

The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to disclose.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, MAL, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Matthew A. Lapierre

Matthew A. Lapierre (PhD, University of Pennsylvania) is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Arizona. His primary research focuses on the way media affects children's health and well-being with a specific focus on persuasive communication. His secondary research interests include examining how parents make health focused decisions for their children and how child development affects consumer behavior.

Marina Krcmar

Marina Krcmar (PhD, University of Wisconsin–Madison) is a professor at Wake Forest University. Her research focuses on how children and adolescents use and are affected by media. Recent work has focused on video games and other entertainment media as they relate to moral reasoning. Additional research examines the effects of media targeting very young children. She has published 2 books, as well as many chapters and journal articles on these topics.

Eunjoo Choi

Eunjoo Choi (M.A., University of Arizona) is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at the University of Arizona. Her research interests include children and media, with a particular focus on parenting practices and children’s consumer socialization.

Kristen A. Haberkorn

Kristen Haberkorn (B.S., Winthrop University) is a graduate student in the Department of Communication at Wake Forest University. Her research interests include family communication, interpersonal communication and media.

Sarah J. Locke

Sarah J. Locke (B.S., Illinois State University) is a graduate student in the Department of Communication at Wake Forest University. Her research interests include interpersonal communication, especially regarding health and media effects.