Sexual content on TV affects teen pregnancy rates
Researchers at RAND Corporation have reported a correlation between teen pregnancy rates and exposure to sexual content on TV shows.
>Researchers at the nonprofit organization found that adolescents with a high level of exposure to television shows with sexual content are twice as likely to get pregnant or impregnate someone as those who saw fewer programs of this kind over a period of three years. It is the first study to demonstrate this association.
Popularity: 5% [?]
[?]
Type in a relevant tag, and click the button, and help organize this blog's information.
[More Help]
[More Help]
Please let’s not confuse correlation with causation.
The word “affects” in the subject line implies causation.
The Rand study only found a correlation.
3 Nov 2008 @ 12:09 | Permalink
How does ‘affects’ imply ‘causation’? That’s not the impression I got. And he specifically SAYS correlation. No mention of causation is even found or assumed. I certainly didn’t assume it.
3 Nov 2008 @ 12:20 | Permalink
Thanks for the clarification, Naismith. I admit I rewrote the title to attract attention.
But yes, this study doesn’t say much other than that teens who get pregnant also watch sex-filled TV. That could be because TV shows influence behaviour. Perhaps it’s because parents who allow their children to watch sexual content on TV also don’t care if their children get pregnant. Maybe the type of persons who get pregnant are the same type of persons to watch sex-saturated television. Or something else altogether.
That be said, as Mary pointed out, I did specify that the study reported only a correlation.
3 Nov 2008 @ 14:28 | Permalink
I was wondering about TV watching time in relation to parent discussion time i.e. kids who watch the most provocative material also happen to be the kids who watch TV without their parents in the room so they don’t get to have the same sort of discussions, or something to that effect.
3 Nov 2008 @ 16:47 | Permalink
Yep, another plausible scenario.
3 Nov 2008 @ 16:53 | Permalink
I mentioned this research on my blog when it first came out.
8 Feb 2009 @ 08:58 | Permalink