Abstract

Reports on sexual activity among U.S. adolescents have shown a rise in their seriousness (Martino, Collins, Elliott, Strachman, Kanouse, & Berry, 2006). Such young sexual initiation is seen as a predictor of overall riskier sexual behavior such as having a multitude of sexual partners, not using any protective birth control and taking part in unwanted sex (Brown, L'Engle, Pardun, Guo, Kenneavy, & Jackson, 2006; Martino et at., 2006; Parkes, Wight, Hunt, Henderson, & Sargent, 2013; Price & Hyde, 2009; Primack, Douglas, Fine, & Dalton, 2009; Steinberg & Monahan, 2010). It is apparent that such riskier sexual behaviors result in higher rates of STI's and unwanted pregnancies (Brown et al., 2006; Parkes et al., 2013; Price & Hyde, 2009; Primack et al., 2009; Martino et al., 2006; Steinberg & Monahan, 2010). In September 2007, the United States Congress held a hearing on the gravity of sexual music content and their relationship to risky sexual behavior (Kistler & Lee, 2009). Recognition has also been found through studies, including some self-reported, concluding that young populations seek out entertainment media to facilitate as a tool of insight into personal development in the areas of sexual norms, and as a means of reference in establishing their own identities (Brown et al., 2006; Coyne et al., 2013; Coyne & Padilla-Walker, 2015; Primack et al., 2009). Music has been suggested to have the largest personality developing influence when compared to other media forms (Primack et al., 2009). Being that adolescence is the time of accepting or rejecting normalizations, including those distorted, (Turner, 2011) it remains a subject group that provides great value to this study. An organized computer search was directed with the assistance of MedLine, PsycINFO, Communications, and Mass Media in April and May 2017 in search of relevant articles. From here strategic elimination of those without inclusion criteria were made. The remaining data was coded and assessed through the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software program. Although, suitable to both random and fixed effect models, only random models were reported in accordance to Hunter and Schmidt's (2005) argument on population variation. Positive effects signified associations with music in the form of lyrics or video and that to sexual behaviors. All studies presented said positive relationship in support of the music as sexual behavior indicator perspective. Generally, music is not something people are thinking critically about (Burgess & Burpo, 2012) bringing light to the closer but still not reached need in media literacy education. This is essential as it is not realistic to expect media to stop selling sex, therefore the responsibility for change lies in those who can use this knowledge to promote its awareness and ultimately help our youth become better prepared for making healthy, responsible deductions out of the sexually clad music we all enjoy. It is true that the wheels are already in motion (Wright et al., 2016; Wright, Dillman Carpentier, Hopper, & Warburton, 2017); the goal of this study was to keep up its momentum to continue propelling the movement forward.

Thesis Completion

2018

Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair/Advisor

Wright, Chrysalis

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree Program

Psychology

Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Release Date

5-1-2018

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