| Adolescent
Sexuality and Television
Principal
Investigator: Joel W. Grube, Ph.D.
Recently,
attention has focused on the role that exposure to sexual
content in the media may play in the development of adolescents'
sexual attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Previous research
relevant to understanding this issue, however, cannot be considered
definitive. In particular, none of the available studies have
used longitudinal research designs that can address whether
exposure to sexual content in the media precedes changes in
adolescents' sexual knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and
behaviors. In order to better address this issue, we propose
to undertake two closely interrelated studies of sexual content
on television.
Study
1 will be a content analysis of the sexual language and
images in television programming. In addition to documenting
the extent and nature of sexual content on television, Study
1 will also provide information to be used in developing measures
of exposure for Study 2.
Study
2 will be a longitudinal survey of adolescents (aged 11-16
at Wave 1) and their parents. The samples will be selected
from the greater San Francisco Bay Area and from Los Angeles
County using random digit dialing (RDD) methods. Study 2 will
be implemented using a combination of three yearly in-home
computer assisted personal interviews (CAPI) and one yearly
interim mail survey.
The
primary objective of Study 1 is to document the nature and
frequency of sexual content on television overall, by program
type, and by genre.
The primary objective of Study 2 is to investigate if exposure
to, awareness of, and affect toward sexual content on television
influences changes in adolescent sexual knowledge, expectancies,
norms, intentions, and behaviors.
A
secondary objective of Study 2 is to test and extend a theoretical
model of media effects that was developed in the context of
alcohol advertising. This model specifies how the effects
of exposure to media content on beliefs, knowledge, and behavior
are mediated through affective and cognitive processes and
how these relationships are moderated by important personal,
environmental, and message variables.
The overall goal of the proposed research is to ascertain
if, and under what circumstances, sexually-related content
in television programming predisposes young people to engage
in sexual activity. This study will thus provide important
information that can help guide policy and prevention efforts
to reduce adolescent pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs), and related problems.
Proceed
to PRC CD Presentation featuring Dr. Joel W. Grube
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