Depiction of alcohol, tobacco and other substances in G-rated animated feature films

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Author:

Thompson, Kimberly M.; Yokota, Fumie

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Year:

2001

Article Title:

Depiction of alcohol, tobacco and other substances in G-rated animated feature films

Journal:

Pediatrics

Volume:

107

Edition:

Issue:

107

Pages:

1369-1374

ISBN/ISSN:

1120-7507

Source of Funding:

Study Design:

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Age Group:

URL:

Abstract:

Objective : To determine whether amounts of alcohol, tobacco and illegal substance depictions in animated G-rated movies have increased over time and examine correlation to violent content and health messages in these scenes.

Design : Retrospective content analysis of G-rated animated films identified in IMDb and referenced in Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide for accuracy. Nonparametric Spearman's rank correlation and regression analysis used to determine number of depictions of substance use and the relationship to this use with violence or health.

Subjects and Setting : English only, G-rated animated films released in theaters and available for rental between 1937 and 2000 that were 60 minutes or more. 83 films fit selection, two unavailable, leaving 81 total films reviewed. Data collected included all continuous displays of incidents of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal substance use.

Outcome Measures : Content of alcohol, tobacco or other illegal substances in films. Duration of incidents, type of character (good or bad) using substances, physical effects of substances, and health messages verbally conveyed in films.

Results : Nearly half of films (47%) showed alcohol use (42 second average exposure) and 43% showed tobacco use (2.1 minutes average exposure). None showed explicit illegal substance use. Significant decrease over time in depictions of substance use in these films. Some correlation between scenes with both drinking and smoking and violent acts ( r = .20). Only three out of 81 films contained messages about smoking cessation and none contained messages about alcohol limitations.

Conclusions : Depictions of substance use in G-rated animated films is decreasing over time but continue to show these substances as normative behavior without health messages of effects of long-term abuse. � Center on Media and Child Health

Keywords:

Alcohol
Animation
Characterization
Children
Content Ratings
Motion Pictures
Parents and Parenting
Tobacco
Videotapes