Development through media use? A German study on the use of radio in adolescence

Abstract

A relationship between the developmental aspirations of adolescents and the modes of their media use is suggested. The hypothesis is forwarded that adolescents’ use of the radio is largely determined by their wish to accelerate and enhance their own development. Radio is assumed to be used by adolescents to master age-specific developmental tasks. A model linking developmental aspirations and music involvement with radio use is tested in a structural equations approach. Data from a German youth study of 10- to 18-year-olds (N = 1011) is analysed. Findings underscore the conjecture that developmental aspirations in the form of subjective discrepancies between developmental goals and the current developmental standing with regard to selected developmental tasks and certain modes of radio use (socioemotional) are indeed related. Adolescent music involvement also emerged as a powerful predictor of socioemotional radio use.