Citation

Brown JD, Witherspoon EM. J. Adolesc. Health 2002; 31(6, Suppl 1): 153-170.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S1054-139X(02)00507-4

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

American teens today grow up in a world saturated with the mass media. In general, the media depict a world in which unhealthy behaviors such as physical aggression, unprotected sex, smoking, and drinking are glamorous and risk-free. We summarize what is known about the media's effects on four adolescent health issues that have been studied most comprehensively: violence and aggression; sex; obesity, nutrition, and eating disorders; and alcohol and tobacco use. A number of approaches that have potential for helping turn the media into more positive forces for adolescents' health are discussed