Sexual content on TV is linked to teen pregnancy

Teenagers who watch a lot of television programs that contain sexual content are more than twice as likely to be involved in a pregnancy, according to a study published today in the journal Pediatrics.

Researchers from RAND Corporation surveyed about 2,000 adolescents, ages 12 to 17, nationwide in 2001 about their television habits and sexual behavior. Researchers focused on 23 programs popular among teenagers that were widely available on broadcast and cable TV. The shows included dramas, comedies, reality programs and animated shows. Sexual content was defined as depictions of sex as well as dialogue or discussion about sex. The participants were surveyed again three years later. About 700 said they had engaged in sexual intercourse by the third survey.

The teens who watched the most sexual content on TV (the 90th percentile) were twice as likely to have become pregnant or caused a pregnancy compared to the teens who watched the least amount of sexual content on TV (the 10th percentile). Adolescents who lived in a two-parent household had a lower probability of pregnancy while African Americans and adolescents with behavior problems were more likely to be involved in a pregnancy.

Parents should consider limiting their teen's exposure to sexual content on TV, said the study's lead author, Anita Chandra, a behavioral scientist at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. Television producers should consider more realistic depictions of the consequences of sex in their scripts, she says, noting that there is little content on the consequences of unprotected sex. About 1 million adolescents become pregnant each year in the United States.

"Adolescents receive a considerable amount of information about sex through television and that programming typically does not highlight the risks and responsibilities of sex," said Chandra, in a news release. "Our findings suggest that television may play a significant role in the high rates of teenage pregnancy in the United States."

-- Shari Roan

Photo credit: Mark Liddell/HBO

Comments

[Peter Coffin]

Well if people didn't condition their children to learn everything from TV when they are little, the TV would have less influence as they age.

[joe]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH *gasp* HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH *gasp*HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH *collapses*

[Ronald Jean]

This is a revealing example of how ignorant or, just not concerned society is,
when we need the help of a scientist to realize an issue such as this! But,
like other important issues that face society everyday, this wil blow over and
be forgotten so that the all mighty dollar can continue to be made and continue
to do it's damage! Everyboby breathing on this earth should be embarrased and
ashamed!

[Inverse137]

This article is bogus. Everyone knows how well "abstinence only" education works. Hell, look at our own Republican Vice Presidential candidate for example. A good ole' hockey mom that taught her daughters abstinence only....

Oh, never mind...

Don't want your kid to get pregnant? Talk to them about sex and make sure they know that it only takes 15 minutes to run to the gas station to buy condoms and a lifetime to raise a kid.

[Notumbo]

I find it ironic that viewing sexualized content makes young women suceptible to early sex and possible pregnancy and/or sexual diseases, while every time social scientists show a distinct link between violent content - video games, movies, television - the entire media empire shouts in howls of rage. "No such linkage" they cry! One thing does not "cause" another, they shout. What hooey.

Everyone's Puritan streak gets "aroused" everytime the subject is sex. But violence? As American as Apple Pie, dammit!! Can't hurt the kiddies, no siree! But sex? Ruin their lives, it will!

[casual correlation]

Perhaps 'hornier' people watch raunchier shows on TV, and are also more likely to get pregnant?
As opposed to the implication of the article which is that watching sexual content leads to pregnancy.

It's not that unlikely of a hypothesis!

[Lorelei Mission]

Kids whose parents barely supervise their lives, are able to watch the sexy tv programs all they want. And kids whose parents barely supervise their lives, don't get much info on how to prevent pregnancy, and have more opportunities to have unprotected sex.

So the TV isn't the cause of the pregnancy involvement. What we have here are two symptoms from a single cause, not one cause and one symptom.

[John]

This study is irrelevant, because it has no way to measure causality. It is just as likely (if not moreso) that the personality or personal views of kids who tend not to watch sexual content on TV are already also those least likely to engage in it.

[Dcouvina]

No Kidding? Unfortunately there are way too many maladjusted teens in this country that are easily influenced by Hollywood. Personally, I think those shows are mindless garbage.

[Spleen]

Boy, that's a shocker.

Good thing there are still a few parents left out here who don't need studies to tell us the obvious.

Yes, television is a strong motivator. It doesn't have to flash a direct message, all it has to do is give support to various view points in order to change behavior.

There's nobody sitting at the controls thinking "hmm, I'd like to make more teenage girls pregnant, so I'm going to do this type of show".

But there's the constant pushing of standards, a little bit here, a little bit there. The next thing you know where all so numb to it that we relieved that our daughters look up to Hanna Montana!!!!

People are controlled by their televisions. If you don't believe it, you're too far in.

Unfortunately, most of our country is too far in. Look at how the media force Obama on us, and look at how successful they were. He could NEVER have gotten so far without the media's influence on voters.

Sad to watch - it really is.

[FLboy386]

If kids got reasonable sex ed in school instead of learning about it from TV we would have far fewer teen age pregnancys. Just say no doesn't work for sex or drugs. Information is the best prevention.

[Jake Gordon]

DUHH! Why is this News? This is common sense people! However, the commericials shown during the episodes are far more potent than the program itself. Every wonder why you get HORNY watching a shampoo commercial?

[brad]

Yet again, the media reframes science to sell stories. PEER-REFEREED JOURNALS DO NOT SAY ONE THING CAUSES ANOTHER. They say there's a correlation, which means something else might have caused both of them. For example, kids in families that are less conservative about sex might be more likely to have sex as teens, AND more likely to see sex on television. One doesn't have to cause the other.

[Kevin]

I don't know why this is news to everyone. If watching t.v. did not alter peoples behavior there would be no commercial advertising.

[max]

Hooray for junk science.
People, read what the article claims the study says...and I quote:

"The teens who watched the most sexual content on TV (the 90th percentile) were twice as likely to have become pregnant or caused a pregnancy compared to the teens who watched the least amount of sexual content on TV"

This does NOT mean that watching those shows CAUSES these kids to become more sexually active. It only means that the kids who watch these shows are the same ones who are also more likely to become pregnant. It does not mean that one causes the other.

Just think about it. Kids who are more involved in sex are more likely to watch this type of programming ANYWAY. It doesn't mean the TV show CAUSED it.

My guess? Teens who are having reckless unprotected sex and getting pregnant watch all sorts of junk tv, and probably watch it a lot more than teens who are smart and careful, or (best of all) who aren't sexually active at all.

Brainless, dull-witted people are drawn to watching more tv to begin with.

[Bob]

Boy, the nutjobs sure do come out when you show a link between immoral entertainment and immoral behavior, don't they? Why don't you guys like to see that link? Because it undermines your desire for sexual immorality. Glad there are some of us left who know what morality is.

[Rob]

To those defending sex on tv: Do you actually have children? Your perspective will change when you do.

[Mike Jones]

"This is a revealing example of how ignorant or, just not concerned society is,
when we need the help of a scientist to realize an issue such as this!"

Well, yes it is: mostly, it shows how people like you are jumping to conclusions. The study does not show that watching more sex on TV causes higher pregnancy rates, it shows that they are correlated. It's just as plausible to assume that sexually active teens are also more likely to choose to watch sexual content on TV.

[Van]

Have to concur with Brad, Does watching sex content cause pregnancy, or do ignorant and promiscuous teens watch more TV with sex content? Or is the answer to require shows with sex content to run Planned Parenthood and contraceptive ads?

Van

[max]

OK, obviously from the natural standpoint people are meant to get pregnant - hormones, etc and there has to be supervision and education for this not to happen to kids. Now, perhaps if we read the other explanations in the study (two-parent vs. one parent households) we can find a different explanation - that stricter parents who monitor their children more carefully also monitor what they watch and their get to see less sex on

[Matt]

yes, lets blame TV.

nevermind the advertisers...

[josh]

Agree with "brad" above - the study is correlative, not causative. That said, I also agree with the study author: kids aren't exposed to the real consequences of sex. Entertainments focus on "getting the girl", not what happens after you get her! I think this is particularly true for abortion: forgetting the religious aspect for a moment, I don't know of *any* dramatic treatment that deals with abortion accurately, from either the male or female perspective. Abortion is a terrible last resort that takes a huge psychic and sometimes physical toll on all involved. You also never see people dealing with non-HIV STDs, and all the lingering discomfort and and problems they cause.

The same could be said of portrayals of "casual violence" - real consequences are not portrayed. In the movies, bar fights end with a pat on the back, a shot of whiskey and male bonding. But in the real world, people break their necks and get paralyzed for life, or someone doesn't like losing the fight and returns with a gun. This has always been a risk, but our society of strangers makes it even more likely.

[tarbubble]

kids copy what they see on TV. any parent will tell you that. we don't permit much TV watching, but when we do, we have to make sure we explain what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. TV taught my kids that flushing things down the toilet is funny - there was a parental TV oversight that cost us a pretty penny.

If you let your kids watch a bunch of trash, they're going to absorb trash. adolescents and teenagers are impressionable. Their brains are not fully mature. My husband works with 12 and 13-year old boys. They are like bulls with rings in their noses, entertainment leads them around so well. Adults are susceptible to this, too - when Sex & the City was a big hit, didn't the clothes and cocktails (mojitos) featured on the show have a big bump in sales?

And notumbo, i agree with you on the overall hypocrisy of violence vs. sex. My ultimate conclusion is that too much entertainment of any kind (internet included) dulls us to the realities and responsibilities of life.

[Noah Way]

How many generations before they link violence to TV?

You are what you eat.

[DrooSkee]

I knew someone would bring Obama into this..

You know what I do.. I have a TV. I only use it for DVD's. I dont have cable, except for internet. You can now get most of you beloved programs online. Hook your TV up to you're computer and a lot changes.. You are in control..

If my kid got pregnant watching TV... haha!!