The classed trajectory of media habitus: Television time and socioeconomic status from adolescence to adulthood

Abstract

Despite a wealth of research about unequal transitions to adulthood in the U.S., we know less about how classed daily life (or “habitus”) carries with individuals as they age and experience socioeconomic mobility. Taking weekly time spent watching television as a form of class habitus, this research traces the trajectories of television time from adolescence to adulthood using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 4,884). Using latent class growth analysis, I find four trajectories of TV time: Falling Watchers (8 %), Rising Watchers (2 %), Rise and Fall Watchers (3 %), and Steady Watchers (86 %). Findings both support and complicate previous understandings of habitus over time. Adolescent socioeconomic measures and socioeconomic mobility were associated with TV trajectory. While the majority of individuals maintained TV time across the life course, TV time habits could also change as individuals aged and these changes were more likely among those who have lower-class experiences.