Citation

Brown JD. J. Sex Res. 2002; 39(1): 42-45.

Affiliation

School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3365, USA. Jane_Brown@unc.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality)

DOI

10.1080/00224490209552118

PMID

12476255

Abstract

The mainstream mass media (television, magazines, movies, music, and the Internet) provide increasingly frequent portrayals of sexuality. We still know relatively little about how this content is used and how it affects sexual beliefs and behaviors. The few available studies suggest that the media do have an impact because the media keep sexual behavior on public and personal agendas, media portrayals reinforce a relatively consistent set of sexual and relationship norms, and the media rarely depict sexually responsible models. More longitudinal research, especially with early adolescents is needed to learn more about how media content is attended to, interpreted, and incorporated into developing sexual lives.

Language: en