This study explored differences between parents and their children in the evaluation of utilization and effects of electronic games. The study also examined conflicts that could be occurred between parents and their children because of the games, and potential predictors of the conflicts. A total of 210 5th and 6th grade students of elementary schools and their 210 mothers were participated in the survey. The results showed that, compared to children, mothers evaluated that games were not beneficial to children and contained lots of violent content. Mothers concerned the potential negative effects of games on school performance among other variables. The results also indicated that the children who highly utilized games, and enjoyed violent games more experienced negative behaviors during game-playing. In addition, children's experiences of aggressive behaviors during game-playing moderately correlated with 'fighting with friends/ brothers/sisters'(mothers' evaluation), 'unbalanced game-playing' (mothers' evaluation), 'the amount of game utilization'(mothers and children's evaluations), 'the degree of violence of favorite games' (mothers' and children's evaluations). Conflicts between children and mothers due to game-playing could be predicted by unbalanced and excessive game-playing, the degree of violence of favorite games, and potential harmful effects on children and school performances.

• 유홍식(서울여자대학교 언론영상학부 교수) | Hong-Sik Yu