WWW- Could "Desperate Housewives" and X-rated rap lyrics be pushing American teens into having sex earlier?
A new study suggests that youths who are exposed to sexually explicit media when they are 12 to 14 are more likely to have sex before they hit 16.
"Media is a powerful sex educator, but not always in the best interest of children," said Jane Brown of the University of North Carolina, chief researcher of the study.
White teens were particularly susceptible to media messages, with those who watched or listened to explicit material more than twice as likely to have sex.
Black teens were more likely to be exposed to the racy material, but the study found they were far more influenced by attitudes of parents and friends than media.
The study, published in Pediatrics magazine, analyzed 170 popular songs, including hits by Nelly, Ja Rule, Jay-Z and Destiny's Child. They discovered 40% of the lyrics contained sexual content.
"The Simpsons" was the most popular TV show among the teens but the shows that included the most sexual content were UPN's "WWE Smackdown," and MTV's "Total Request Live."
The researchers interviewed 1,017 black and white adolescents from middle schools in North Carolina. Each teen was evaluated at age 12 to 14 years, and once again two years later.
Despite the flood of hormone-soaked shows and songs, less than 1% of teen media content focuses on sexual health or family planning.
"What's missing in the media are the three C's," Brown said. "Rarely is there a commitment, contraceptives or consequences."
