Published Paper Details:

The rapid proliferation of digital media has intensified concerns regarding the psychological impact of violent media content on young adults. The present study investigated the correlational relationships among media violence exposure, anxiety, and aggression among young adults in India, guided by the General Aggression Model (Anderson & Bushman, 2002) and cultivation theory (Gerbner et al., 1986). A quantitative cross-sectional correlational design was employed. A purposively sampled group of 200 young adults (100 males, 100 females; age range: 18-25 years; M = 22.14, SD = 2.54) completed an online survey between January and February 2026. Three standardised instruments were administered: the Comprehensive Media Exposure Scale (C-ME Scale), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7), and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ-29). Pearson's product-moment correlation was used to analyse data. Results indicated that 87.5% of participants reported moderate media violence exposure (M = 62.83, SD = 10.76); 73.5% reported at least mild anxiety (M = 7.98, SD = 5.03); and 60% demonstrated above-average aggression (M = 79.62, SD = 16.59). All three null hypotheses were rejected: significant positive correlations were found between media violence exposure and aggression, r(198) = .163, p = .021; media violence exposure and anxiety, r(198) = .188, p = .008; and aggression and anxiety, r(198) = .441, p < .001. The findings support the General Aggression Model and cultivation theory, and underscore the need for integrated psychological interventions and media literacy programmes in higher education settings.