Navigating Media’s Influence Through Childhood and Adolescence: A Question and Answer Guide for Professionals

Navigating Media’s Influence Through Childhood and Adolescence moves through research and questions that are relevant to practicing pediatricians and therapists in their everyday practice. As we navigate post-pandemic life where screen time was unrestricted in most homes, this book has never been more important. Written by a pediatrician and a professor of media effects, this book is a vital resource for practicing mental health clinicians, counselors, psychologists, physicians, and students studying in those areas. Grounded in developmental theory, mass communication theory, current research, and acumen gained from years of clinical and teaching experience, this book gives professionals what they need to understand the colossal effect media is having on their patients. An aid to practitioners, this book is organized by developmental stage and matches specific questions related to media’s effects with explicit research-based recommendations and explanations. It is intended to be a quick resource guide for the busy professional.

Kate S. Kurtin, PhD, is an associate professor of communication studies at California State University, Los Angeles. She studies the way young people use media, has an interest in the relationship people form with media, and is the author of three books.

Mary Ellen McCormick, MD, works exclusively as an outpatient general pediatrician in the Los Angeles area. The effects of media on children are an important part of her day-to-day discussions with patients and their parents.