TV can decrease self-esteem in children, except white boys

ANN ARBOR, Mich.-If you are a white girl, a black girl or a black boy, exposure to today's electronic media in the long run tends to make you feel worse about yourself. If you're a white boy, you'll feel better, according to a new study. Lead author Nicole Martins, assistant professor of tele at Indiana University and Kristen Harrison, professor of communication studies at the University of Michigan, also found that black children in their study spent, on average, an extra 10 hours a week watching television. "We can't deny the fact that media has an influence when they're spending most of their time-when they're not in school-with the television," Martins said. Harrison added, "Children who are not doing other things besides watching television cannot help but compare themselves to what they see on the screen." The study, published in Communication Research, surveyed a group of about 400 black and white pre-adolescent students in communities in the Midwest over a year-long period. Rather than look at the impact of particular shows or genres, they focused on the correlation between the time in front of the TV and the impact on their self-esteem. "Regardless of what show you're watching, if you're a white male, things in life are pretty good for you," Martins said of characters on TV.