The impact of TV viewing on academic achievement and mathematical reasoning was examined in a group of 654 higher secondary students (368 boys, 286 girls) from Maharashtra, India. Both among boys and girls, TV viewing had significant negative correlations with academic achievement. TV viewing and mathematical reasoning were negatively correlated among boys only. Heavy viewers of television were poor, compared to light viewers, in their academic achievement and mathematical reasoning. Significant gender differences were noted both in academic achievement and mathematical reasoning. TV viewing explained 13% of the variance in the academic achievement of the students.
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