SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. teens who watch a lot of TV shows that contain sexual content are twice as likely to be involved in a pregnancy as peers who don't, researchers said.
Researchers at Rand Corp. said exposure to sex on television may influence teen pregnancy by creating the perception that there is little risk to engaging in sex without using contraceptives and accelerating the initiation of sexual intercourse.
"Adolescents receive a considerable amount of information about sex through television and that programming typically does not highlight the risks and responsibilities of sex," lead author Anita Chandra said in a statement. "Our findings suggest that television may play a significant role in the high rates of teenage pregnancy in the United States."
The study is based on a national survey of about 2,000 adolescents ages 12 to 17 who were recruited in 2001 and asked about their television viewing habits and sexual behavior. The participants were surveyed again in 2001 and in 2004.
The analysis is based upon results from about 700 participants who had engaged in sexual intercourse by the third survey and reported their pregnancy history.
The findings are published in the journal Pediatrics.
