Does Watching Wrestling Lead to Date Fighting?

Pediatrics has published a 1999 study from Wake Forest that claims there is a correlation between “date-fighting” among teenagers and watching professional wrestling. The study, by Dr. DuRant, Dr. Champion, and Dr. Wolfson, followed 2,228 high school students for 6-7 months in an attempt to find the relationship between watching pro wrestling and date fighting, weapon carrying, and other fighting behavior. The study found that there was a correlation and that the association of date fighting and watching wrestling was stronger among females. The conclusion was that “the frequency of watching wrestling was highest among students who fought with their dates when alcohol or other drugs were involved.”

There might be a reason it took seven years for this study to be published. A 2001 Media Life article debunked the study. The article claims that the study was originally designed to be a drug study but Dr. DuRant attached wrestling viewing to it. The article finds that the study proves a correlation but does not prove a cause and effect relationship. Robert Thompson, head of Syracuse University’s Center for the Study of Popular Televsion, has a problem with the way the study tries to make the correlation into a cause and effect issue.

In response to this study, Vince McMahon, the Chairman of the Board of World Wrestling Entertainment issued the following statement:

“We regret that this seven year old junk science was re-issued. It was junk science then, and is junk science now. It took them seven years to get someone to actually read it and it hasn't even been subjected to a peer review. There is nothing new in the study, and we think it is recycled garbage put forward by some obscure professor who finally got someone to read his paper and is trying to get his name in the media."

As far as my opinion on this subject, it seems to me that the parents of these children should be more concerned that their kids are out doing drugs and drinking alcohol rather than staying at home watching TV. In addition, I have a problem with many of the media outlets that are sensationalizing this story by reporting that a cause and effect relationship was proved by this study. Correlations do not prove cause and effect and anyone that says or implies otherwise is lying. The fact that it took seven years for this study to get published says more about the quality of the study than anything I can say about it.

Suggested Reading

• The Wake Forest Study
• 2001 Article Debunking the Study
• Vince McMahon Responds to the Study