Sexual content on television is strongly associated with teen pregnancy, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
Researchers at the nonprofit organization found that adolescents with high exposure to TV programs with sexual content were twice as likely to become pregnant or impregnate their partner compared to those who saw fewer programs of this kind in a period three years time. It is the first study to demonstrate this relationship, RAND said.
A central message of the study is that there needs to be more dialogue about sex in the media, particularly between parents and their children, said Anita Chandra, lead author of the study and behavioral science at RAND.
"We know parents are busy, but sit and watch shows with your child, talk about the representations of the characters talk about what they just saw and use that as a teachable moment is really, I think, a good recommendation part of this research, "said Chandra.
To measure exposure, the researchers used a method developed by another research group that evaluated 23 programs for its sexual content. Then I asked the teens how often they saw each of these programs, and eventually developed a score based on exposure to the programs.
"We know that if a child is watching more than an hour of TV a day, and we know that there is a sex scene in the content every 10 minutes, then getting a considerable amount of sexual content," said Chandra.
Melody Monroe of Norfolk, Virginia, USA, who had her first son when he was 17, said he agreed that sex on television contributes to teen pregnancy. Monroe, who shared some of their perspectives on iReport.com, recalls watching programs on Lifetime Television with her mother who were "almost soft porn ", with scenes of kissing and bed.
"Oh, the boy gets the girl, fall in love, live happily ever after come the babies, I thought that was a way of being in love," said Monroe, now 26 years. "Happily ever after does not happen."
But Sandy Tomlinson of Glendale, Ariz., who had her son at age 15, said he does not think television affects teen pregnancy, but rather that teenage pregnancy has to do with how parents raise their children.
"I think if my parents had been more involved in my life I had made different decisions," said Tomlinson, now 27, who also shared his story on iReport.com. "It is passé to hear all these studies that blame everything and everyone except the parents."
The RAND study, published in the November issue of the journal Pediatrics , analyzed the results of three surveys on 2,000 adolescents aged 12-17 from 2001 to 2004. He focused on the results of more than 700 participants across the United States who had had sex by the time the third survey.
The researchers asked teens about a variety of comedies, dramas, animated shows and reality shows known to have sexual content. Chandra declined to name specific programs, but said the sexual content is "pretty persuasive."
Although this is just one of many factors that influence teen pregnancy, the study is compelling, given that adolescents spend a significant amount of time watching television, said Chandra. The information will help develop prevention programs for children that focuses on media literacy, said.
Even when it comes to other factors such as demographic characteristics and risk-taking behaviors, the correlation between televised sexual content and teen pregnancy continues, Chandra said.
The study also found that adolescents living in a household with two parents have less chance of pregnancy.
African Americans, and adolescents with behavioral problems are more likely to become pregnant or impregnate someone as well as young people who wanted to have children soon, says the study showed.
A strong relationship between sexual content on television and teen pregnancy is not surprising, said Dr. Yolanda Wimberly, a professor of clinical pediatrics at the Morehouse School of Medicine and medical director of the Center for Excellence in Sexual Health. Wimberly, who works at a clinic for adolescents not involved in the study.
"You can not expect a sexually saturated society in all media inputs at the same time be surprised when this influences people and their behavior," he said. "If you do, then you need to ensure that you accompany it with education that people need to make responsible decisions."
It is crucial that parents and guardians talk to their children about these issues and teach them values and morals, but may limit somewhat the amount of sexual content their teens watch on television, Wimberly said. Young people will have exposure to these programs out, as in the homes of friends or online.
Experts say that TV programs rarely portray the risks of sex and often do not mention contraception. But previous RAND research showed that the content that includes negative consequences such as sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies can be educational for teens.
Previous research showed that adolescents who watched a lot of TV with sexual content are more likely to have sex for the first time next year.
Institutes of Health of the United States reported in July that teen pregnancies in this country increased from 2005 to 2006 for the first time since 1991.
