Source: NPR / All Things Considered, “Teens, Sex and TV: A Risky Mix?,” by Kim Masters, 12/2/08. Includes audio file (5:23).
Masters reports on the new RAND Corp. study (but neglects to cite it). Here it is:
Does Watching Sex on Television Predict Teen Pregancy? National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Chandra A, Martino SC, Collins RL, Elliott MN, Berry SH, Kanouse DE, Miu A Pediatrics, Pediatrics 2009;122:1047-1054. ‘Teens who were exposed to high levels of television sexual content (90th percentile) were twice as likely to experience a pregnancy in the subsequent 3 years, compared with those with lower levels of exposure (10th percentile).’
NOTE: The 2009 issue of the journal Pediatrics is not yet available online via the library’s databases. Since RAND is quasi-governmental, I hope this article will be available to the public in the future.
Masters interviews Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage of the t.v. show Gossip Girl, and Michael Males of Youthfacts.org. Shwartz and Savage did admit to qualms over the Gossip Girl provocative ads. Males considers adults in their environment and poverty as the two key factors in teen pregnancy.
The library has the following Gossip Girl episodes (click on the number next to the subject Gossip columnists–Drama). The pilot script is in receipt but awaiting cataloging.
