Television programs linked to teen pregnancy

A recent study proves what we've known all along... if you put garbage in, you get garbage out.

A study published in the November edition of the journal Pediatrics, found that "teens exposed to high levels of sexual content on television were twice as likely to be involved in a pregnancy in the following three years as teens with limited exposure."

Other highlights - or lowlights - from the article:

• "The study...followed a 2004 study by some of the same scientists that indicated watching sexual content on TV can make teens more likely to have sex at earlier ages."
• "Nearly 1 million young women between the ages of 15 and 19 become pregnant each year in the U.S., and they are more likely than other teens to drop out of high school and live in poverty."

The Good News
The good news - the study interviewed 2,003 boys and girls between the years of 2001 and 2004. (By the time the interviews in 2004, the age range was 15-20.) By the last interview, 744 youths shared they had engaged in sexual intercourse - 37%. For those of you keeping "score," that means 63% had not! That means 63% chose to look out for their dreams and goals, focusing on what they wanted MOST, over what they wanted for the MOMENT.

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The full story is here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27506234/

Moms matter

Moms matter to teen girls considering sex
Posted on CNN.com September 4, 2002

Excerpts from the story:

• Teenage girls who have close relationships with their mothers wait longer to have sex for the first time


• Girls are less likely to have sex when their moms strongly disapprove


• Talking about birth control did not appear to have any effect on teens' sexual behavior

The study is based on the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a massive federal investigation of teen behavior. This research examined interviews with 2,006 teens ages 14-15 who said they were virgins. The same teens were interviewed a year later, and 10.8 percent of the boys and 15.8 percent of the girls had had sex by the second interview.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota examined extensive interviews with their mothers -- fathers were not interviewed -- to try to determine what made the difference between those who became sexually active and those who stayed virgins. Mothers whose daughters were still virgins shared several qualities:

• They strongly disapproved of their daughters having sex.


• They were satisfied with their relationship with their daughters.


• They frequently talked with the parents of their daughters' friends.


• These mothers also more likely to have a college degree.

Other factors made no difference in teen sex, including how religious the mothers were, how often they talked about sex, how uncomfortable they were talking about sex and whether they recommended that their daughters use a specific kind of birth control.

When teens do realize that their mothers disapprove of sex, they are less likely to have it. In addition, younger teens are more likely to realize that their mothers' disapprove when they feel close to their moms.

"Parents and especially mothers should be aware of the role they play in influencing their adolescent daughter's sexual behaviors," researchers concluded. "Parents need to be clear about their values and then clearly articulate them to their children and adolescents."