Attitudes Towards Guns’ Role in Violent Video Games Impacts Among Young Adults

The present study aimed to observe violent video games’ impacts on aggressive intentions and prosocialness, mediated by attitudes towards guns. We collected data from 324 young adults from Brazil (mean age: 22.02, SD = 4.41, 51.5% women). In a Strctural Equation Model, violence depicted in participants’ favorite games had direct effects on higher aggression intention and lower prosocialness. Furthermore, attitudes towards guns mediated indirect effects of this variable. In summary, the observed results highlight a significant mediation model. The data also corroborates the idea that media can shape and form attitudes, contributing to the development of public policies regarding gun control.