| Title |
The Dual Role of Media Internalization in Adolescent Sexual Behavior
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Archives of Sexual Behavior, December 2016
|
| DOI | 10.1007/s10508-016-0902-4 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Ann Rousseau, Ine Beyens, Steven Eggermont, Laura Vandenbosch |
| Abstract |
Sexualizing media content is prevalent in various media types. Sexualizing media messages and portrayals emphasize unattainable body and appearance ideals as the primary components of sexual desirability. The internalization of these ideals is positively related to self-objectification and sexual body consciousness. In turn, self-objectification and sexual body consciousness affect adolescents' sexual behavior, albeit in opposing directions. While objectifying self-perceptions are linked to higher levels of sexual behavior, body consciousness during physical intimacy is linked to lower levels of sexual behavior. Based on this knowledge, the present three-wave panel study of 824 Belgian, predominant heterosexual adolescents (M age = 15.33; SD = 1.45) proposes a dual-pathway model that investigates two different pathways through which the internalization of media ideals may impact adolescents' sexual behavior. An inhibitory pathway links media internalization to lower levels of sexual behavior through sexual body consciousness, and a supportive pathway links media internalization to higher levels of sexual behavior through self-objectification. Structural equation analyses supported the proposed dual-pathway, showing that the impact of media internalization on adolescents' sexual behavior proceeds through an inhibitory pathway and a supportive pathway. Regarding the supportive pathway, media internalization (W1) positively predicted sexual behavior (W3), through valuing appearance over competence (W2). Regarding the inhibitory pathway, media internalization (W1) positively predicted body surveillance, which, in turn, positively predicted sexual body consciousness (all W2). Sexual body consciousness (W2) is negatively related to sexual behavior (W3). From a sexual developmental perspective, these findings emphasize the importance of guiding adolescents in interpreting and processing sexualizing media messages. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 9 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 5 | 56% |
| United Kingdom | 1 | 11% |
| Unknown | 3 | 33% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 6 | 67% |
| Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 2 | 22% |
| Scientists | 1 | 11% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 74 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 74 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Master | 12 | 16% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 9 | 12% |
| Researcher | 7 | 9% |
| Student > Bachelor | 5 | 7% |
| Student > Doctoral Student | 4 | 5% |
| Other | 11 | 15% |
| Unknown | 26 | 35% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 18 | 24% |
| Social Sciences | 11 | 15% |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 7 | 9% |
| Nursing and Health Professions | 4 | 5% |
| Economics, Econometrics and Finance | 1 | 1% |
| Other | 2 | 3% |
| Unknown | 31 | 42% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 6. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 18 January 2018.
All research outputs
#5,708,200
of 22,914,829 outputs
Outputs from Archives of Sexual Behavior
#1,689
of 3,469 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#104,315
of 420,986 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Archives of Sexual Behavior
#24
of 44 outputs
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