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11-10-2005, 08:10 AM
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More sex on U.S. TV, fewer safe sex messages: study
Last Updated Wed, 09 Nov 2005 16:02:51 EST
CBC Arts
Sex on U.S. television is on the rise, but messages dealing with the risks and responsibilities of having sex have dropped slightly, according to a new study.
The Kaiser Family Foundation, a private, non-profit group that studies major health-care issues like reproductive health and HIV/AIDS, released its Sex On TV 4 study at a forum in Washington, D.C., Wednesday.
The study looked at rising amounts of sexual content in U.S. TV programming, including shows like the WB's 'Gilmore Girls', a comedy-drama about a single mother (Lauren Graham, right) raising her teenage daughter (Alexis Bledel). Other shows cited in the study include NBC's 'Law and Order: Special Victim's Unit', Fox's 'The O.C.' and ABC's 'General Hospital.'
"The increase in the number of TV shows with sexual content, combined with the increase in sexual scenes per show, has led to a dramatic overall increase in sexual content on TV since 1998," University of Arizona professor Dale Kunkel, who led research on the study, said in a statement.
"During the same period, the percentage of these shows that include 'safer sex' messages has also increased significantly, but has leveled off in recent years."
After watching more than 1,100 shows on U.S. TV, researchers found nearly 3,800 scenes with sexual content, up from 1,900 similar scenes in 1998, the first time the survey was conducted.
Nearly 14 per cent of the shows that included sexual content also featured the discussion of abstinence, contraception, or "safer sex" messages – up from the nine per cent in 1998 but down slightly from the 15 per cent in the last Sex on TV study in 2002.
Vicky Rideout, a Kaiser foundation vice-president, praised the writers and producers who introduce these messages "in a way that is entertaining, that doesn't cost them anything in the ratings. ... We know from research we've done that it makes a real difference to the kids in the audience," she told the Associated Press.
The study also found that:
Young Americans between the ages of 8 and 18 watch an average of three hours of television a day.
70 per cent of all shows include some sexual content (with an average of about five scenes per hour), up from 64 per cent in 2002.
77 per cent of shows on the major U.S. broadcast networks include sexual content, up from 71 per cent in 2002.
11 per cent of the shows studied include scenes in which sexual intercourse is either depicted or strongly implied.
27 per cent of shows with intercourse-related content (discussed or depicted) include a reference to safer sex or sexual risks or responsibilities somewhere in the show.
89 per cent of TV characters involved in sexual intercourse appear to be adults aged 25 or older, up from 2002 (83 per cent).
53 per cent of all scenes with intercourse involve characters who have an established relationship with one another.
The study sampled about a week's worth of programming from ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, WB, PBS, Lifetime, TNT, USA Network and HBO. Researchers looked at all genres other than newscasts, sporting events and children's shows.
Sexual content was defined as "both talk about sex and depictions of sexual behaviour, ranging from kissing and fondling to sexual intercourse." Examples of sexual content referenced in the study included a wide range of TV programming, including the film Blue Crush, WB's Gilmore Girls, NBC's Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, Fox's The O.C. and ABC's General Hospital.
The study was designed and analyzed by professors Kunkel and Keren Eyal, and their colleagues at the University of Arizona. They consulted with researchers at the Washington and Menlo Park, Calif.-based Kaiser foundation, which is not affiliated with the Kaiser medical organization.
"Important research in recent years has indicated that television also plays a role in the sexual socialization of youth, contributing to their knowledge, beliefs, expectations, attitudes and even behaviors," the study said.
"New research over the past several years has documented the powerful positive impact television can have on young people – whether it is learning about HIV from an episode of Girlfriends or about condom efficacy from an episode of Friends ...: it is important to know that Hollywood has the potential to play a positive role."
Copyright ©2005 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved
http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2005/11/09/Arts/tvstudy_sex_051109.html
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More sex on U.S. TV, fewer safe sex messages: study
Last Updated Wed, 09 Nov 2005 16:02:51 EST
CBC Arts
Sex on U.S. television is on the rise, but messages dealing with the risks and responsibilities of having sex have dropped slightly, according to a new study.
The Kaiser Family Foundation, a private, non-profit group that studies major health-care issues like reproductive health and HIV/AIDS, released its Sex On TV 4 study at a forum in Washington, D.C., Wednesday.
The study looked at rising amounts of sexual content in U.S. TV programming, including shows like the WB's 'Gilmore Girls', a comedy-drama about a single mother (Lauren Graham, right) raising her teenage daughter (Alexis Bledel). Other shows cited in the study include NBC's 'Law and Order: Special Victim's Unit', Fox's 'The O.C.' and ABC's 'General Hospital.'
"The increase in the number of TV shows with sexual content, combined with the increase in sexual scenes per show, has led to a dramatic overall increase in sexual content on TV since 1998," University of Arizona professor Dale Kunkel, who led research on the study, said in a statement.
"During the same period, the percentage of these shows that include 'safer sex' messages has also increased significantly, but has leveled off in recent years."
After watching more than 1,100 shows on U.S. TV, researchers found nearly 3,800 scenes with sexual content, up from 1,900 similar scenes in 1998, the first time the survey was conducted.
Nearly 14 per cent of the shows that included sexual content also featured the discussion of abstinence, contraception, or "safer sex" messages – up from the nine per cent in 1998 but down slightly from the 15 per cent in the last Sex on TV study in 2002.
Vicky Rideout, a Kaiser foundation vice-president, praised the writers and producers who introduce these messages "in a way that is entertaining, that doesn't cost them anything in the ratings. ... We know from research we've done that it makes a real difference to the kids in the audience," she told the Associated Press.
The study also found that:
Young Americans between the ages of 8 and 18 watch an average of three hours of television a day.
70 per cent of all shows include some sexual content (with an average of about five scenes per hour), up from 64 per cent in 2002.
77 per cent of shows on the major U.S. broadcast networks include sexual content, up from 71 per cent in 2002.
11 per cent of the shows studied include scenes in which sexual intercourse is either depicted or strongly implied.
27 per cent of shows with intercourse-related content (discussed or depicted) include a reference to safer sex or sexual risks or responsibilities somewhere in the show.
89 per cent of TV characters involved in sexual intercourse appear to be adults aged 25 or older, up from 2002 (83 per cent).
53 per cent of all scenes with intercourse involve characters who have an established relationship with one another.
The study sampled about a week's worth of programming from ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, WB, PBS, Lifetime, TNT, USA Network and HBO. Researchers looked at all genres other than newscasts, sporting events and children's shows.
Sexual content was defined as "both talk about sex and depictions of sexual behaviour, ranging from kissing and fondling to sexual intercourse." Examples of sexual content referenced in the study included a wide range of TV programming, including the film Blue Crush, WB's Gilmore Girls, NBC's Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, Fox's The O.C. and ABC's General Hospital.
The study was designed and analyzed by professors Kunkel and Keren Eyal, and their colleagues at the University of Arizona. They consulted with researchers at the Washington and Menlo Park, Calif.-based Kaiser foundation, which is not affiliated with the Kaiser medical organization.
"Important research in recent years has indicated that television also plays a role in the sexual socialization of youth, contributing to their knowledge, beliefs, expectations, attitudes and even behaviors," the study said.
"New research over the past several years has documented the powerful positive impact television can have on young people – whether it is learning about HIV from an episode of Girlfriends or about condom efficacy from an episode of Friends ...: it is important to know that Hollywood has the potential to play a positive role."
Copyright ©2005 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved
http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2005/11/09/Arts/tvstudy_sex_051109.html