A new study has found a positive correlation between how much television children watch and their parents' stress levels. Why? Because the more television kids watch, the more they're exposed to advertising. The more advertising they see, the more likely they are to insist on purchasing items when they go with their parents to the store. This could generate conflict if the parents refuse. All that, researchers say, can contribute to parents' overall stress levels.
What's the solution? Perhaps the most obvious is curtailing screen time. Commercial content is there for a reason: to elicit purchasing behavior. So parents might want to shut off the TV. Researchers concede that this is easier said than done. So they suggest another option. Parents can change how they talk to their kids about purchases.
The researchers suggest that parents seek input from their children on family purchasing decisions. They shouldn't try to control all purchases. Instead, parents might tell their children things like "I will listen to your advice on certain products or brands." This type of communication, the researchers assert, can lead to children making fewer purchasing demands. That means less parents' stress.
However, the protective effect of this kind of communication diminishes with greater exposure to television. This is because advertising aimed at children is especially persuasive. Advertisers use an assortment of tactics, such as bright colors, happy music and celebrity endorsements to appeal to children. Plus, children don't have the cognitive ability to fully understand advertising's intent. That makes them particularly vulnerable to advertisements.