A Meta-Analysis on the Longitudinal, Age-Dependent Effects of Violent Video Games on Aggression

A large body of research exists on the causal relationship between violent video game (VVG) consumption and aggression. However, no meta-analytic studies to date have specifically examined the influence of age on these effects. We investigated the age-dependent relationship between VVG consumption and subsequent physically aggressive behavior in a meta-analytic procedure based on longitudinal studies. Further exploratory analyses addressed the moderating effect of the year of data collection. A random-effects meta-analysis with 30 effect sizes from 21 studies (N = 15,836) yielded a significant and relevant positive effect of VVG on subsequent physically aggressive behavior (r = .21). The effect was reduced but maintained at r = .11 when controlling for aggression at T1. Polynomial regression showed a significant U-shaped age trajectory with a peak in early adolescence at the age of 14. Year of data collection did not correlate with the effect size. Consequently, we confirm the results of other meta-analyses, with the added finding of a peak of effect sizes in early adolescence. The empirical finding provide support for basing age ratings for game publication on potential adverse behavioral effects.