Abstract

BACKGROUND: Excessive viewing of television results serious negative effects on physical and mental health of children and adolescents. In Turkey, Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) started a TV ratings project to inform parents about program contents on 23rd of April 2006. The objective of this study was to determine mothers’ behaviors about viewing of television and their knowledge and opinions about TV ratings system.
METHODS: This descriptive research was performed among 253 mothers who have children under 18 years old. A questionnaire that consists of 21 questions was applied to the mothers face to face in Mothers and Children Health Centre in Ankara, Turkey between 3 and 12 December 2007.
RESULTS: In al of the houses there was at least one television set. Mothers’ mean viewing of television time is 3,1 ± 2,0 hours and children’s mean viewing of television time is 2,7 ± 2,2 hours. Children’s TV viewing time is correlated with their mothers’ viewing time (p

Key words: Viewing television, ratings, children, mothers

Article Language: Turkish English