Media a Strong Influence on Teens' Sexual Behavior
Thursday, March 23, 2006
By Wendy Cloyd, assistant editor
- Citizen Link
New study confirms past research; youth often copy what they see on screen.
A study published in the March edition of the Journal of Adolescent Health found that kids who regularly view sexualized media are more likely to engage in sexual activity than those who are not exposed.
In addition, such exposure can have just as much influence in a teen's life as parental relationships and religious beliefs. If family relationships are weak, media becomes a "sexual super peer."
Daniel Weiss, senior analyst for media and sexuality at Focus on the Family Action, said such studies confirm what common sense has said for years.
"Ideas have consequences," he said. "The last few years have seen a growing body of evidence demonstrating the harm from sexually explicit media. The twisted portrayal of sexuality in mass media is fracturing and distorting our youth in very harmful ways."
Researchers interviewed more than 1,000 children between 12 and 15 years old, asking them to identify specific media - such as magazines, movies, television and music - they commonly viewed. Then they were asked to answer questions about their personal level of sexual activity.
When researchers compared the level of sexual activity to the media the young people normally sought, a direct correlation was identified: The more exposure to sexual behavior, the more likely kids were to act on it in real life.
"The strong relationship between media and adolescents' sexual expression may be due to the media's role as an important source of sexual socialization for teenagers," the study said. "Adolescence is a developmental period that is characterized by intense information seeking, especially about adult roles. Adolescents may turn to the media for information about sexual norms."
Other studies have proven the same to be true. One comprehensive project by psychologist Rebecca Collins published in September 2004 in the online journal Pediatrics found that the more sex-oriented scenes kids viewed, the more likely they were to become sexually active.
"It's social learning. 'Monkey see, monkey do,' " she said. "If everyone's talking about sex or having it, and something bad hardly ever comes out of it, because it doesn't on TV, then they think, 'Hey, the whole world's doing it, and I need to.' "
Dr. Bill Maier, vice president and psychologist in residence at Focus on the Family, said the results of studies like Collins' should be a wake-up call for parents.
"The evidence is clear: Children who regularly view sexually suggestive media are more likely to engage in promiscuous sexual behavior themselves," he said. "What's particularly disturbing about this new research is that it shows that media messages about sex influence kids' attitudes and behaviors just as much, or more so, than their parents.
"Parents who don't understand the power of media or don't take steps to limit their child's exposure to sexually provocative material may very well face the heartbreak of an unplanned pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease."
Parents can't control everything their children see, but, according to Weiss, they can make a difference.
"Parents' first task is to cultivate in their children a hunger for virtue and a desire to seek out what is good and beautiful," he said. "Parents can limit their children's exposure to sexually explicit messages through careful and wise media choices - and those constraints are helpful - but only internal restraints will protect a child outside the home."
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To view the abstract of the study in the Journal of Adolescent Health, click HERE.
Prepare your family for the battle of the mind with these vital resources:
"Mind Over Media: The Power of Making Sound Entertainment Choices" features "man-on-the-street" interviews with teens from the beaches of California to the streets of Times Square . Your kids will discover how to find God's presence or absence in popular culture, and be encouraged to develop their own biblical filter that will shine the light of truth on media messages and enable them to live authentically everywhere they go.
"Raising Media-Wise Teens," by Bob Waliszewski & Bob Smithouser says today's entertainment media's preoccupation with sex, violence and profanity typifies our society's descent into the world of outward appearances. Discover how to communicate with teens about the pitfalls of popular culture, and how to make a family media standard.
Plugged In magazine will deliver to your home reviews of the hottest movies, CDs, TV shows and video games.
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New study confirms past research; youth often copy what they see on screen.
A study published in the March edition of the Journal of Adolescent Health found that kids who regularly view sexualized media are more likely to engage in sexual activity than those who are not exposed.
In addition, such exposure can have just as much influence in a teen's life as parental relationships and religious beliefs. If family relationships are weak, media becomes a "sexual super peer."
Daniel Weiss, senior analyst for media and sexuality at Focus on the Family Action, said such studies confirm what common sense has said for years.
"Ideas have consequences," he said. "The last few years have seen a growing body of evidence demonstrating the harm from sexually explicit media. The twisted portrayal of sexuality in mass media is fracturing and distorting our youth in very harmful ways."
Researchers interviewed more than 1,000 children between 12 and 15 years old, asking them to identify specific media - such as magazines, movies, television and music - they commonly viewed. Then they were asked to answer questions about their personal level of sexual activity.
When researchers compared the level of sexual activity to the media the young people normally sought, a direct correlation was identified: The more exposure to sexual behavior, the more likely kids were to act on it in real life.
"The strong relationship between media and adolescents' sexual expression may be due to the media's role as an important source of sexual socialization for teenagers," the study said. "Adolescence is a developmental period that is characterized by intense information seeking, especially about adult roles. Adolescents may turn to the media for information about sexual norms."
Other studies have proven the same to be true. One comprehensive project by psychologist Rebecca Collins published in September 2004 in the online journal Pediatrics found that the more sex-oriented scenes kids viewed, the more likely they were to become sexually active.
"It's social learning. 'Monkey see, monkey do,' " she said. "If everyone's talking about sex or having it, and something bad hardly ever comes out of it, because it doesn't on TV, then they think, 'Hey, the whole world's doing it, and I need to.' "
Dr. Bill Maier, vice president and psychologist in residence at Focus on the Family, said the results of studies like Collins' should be a wake-up call for parents.
"The evidence is clear: Children who regularly view sexually suggestive media are more likely to engage in promiscuous sexual behavior themselves," he said. "What's particularly disturbing about this new research is that it shows that media messages about sex influence kids' attitudes and behaviors just as much, or more so, than their parents.
"Parents who don't understand the power of media or don't take steps to limit their child's exposure to sexually provocative material may very well face the heartbreak of an unplanned pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease."
Parents can't control everything their children see, but, according to Weiss, they can make a difference.
"Parents' first task is to cultivate in their children a hunger for virtue and a desire to seek out what is good and beautiful," he said. "Parents can limit their children's exposure to sexually explicit messages through careful and wise media choices - and those constraints are helpful - but only internal restraints will protect a child outside the home."
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To view the abstract of the study in the Journal of Adolescent Health, click HERE.
Prepare your family for the battle of the mind with these vital resources: