Sarah L Ashby1, Christine M Arcari, M Bruce Edmonson. 1. Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 2870 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA. slashby@aap.net
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine if television viewing is associated with the risk of initiating sexual intercourse in young adolescents. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data obtained from 1994 through 1996. SETTING: The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. PARTICIPANTS: The 4808 students younger than 16 years who had not initiated intercourse before baseline interview. EXPOSURES: Primary exposure was self-reported daily television watching, categorized as low (< 2 hours) or high (> or =2 hours) use. Secondary exposure was parental regulation of television programming watched. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Odds ratio for initiating intercourse by 1-year follow-up, adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: At baseline, 2414 (48.8%) subjects watched television 2 or more hours per day. By 1-year follow-up, 791 (15.6%) subjects had initiated intercourse. Sexual initiation was associated with high television use (adjusted odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.79) and lack of parental regulation of television programming (adjusted odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.80). Most subjects (73.8%) reported strong parental disapproval of sex; their overall rate of initiation was 12.5%, and their risk was independently associated with high television use (adjusted odds ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-2.40) and lack of parental regulation of television programming (adjusted odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.81). Among adolescents who did not report strong parental disapproval, the rate of sexual initiation was higher (24.1%) but unrelated to television use. CONCLUSION: Among young adolescents who reported strong parental disapproval of sex, watching television 2 or more hours per day and lack of parental regulation of television programming were each associated with increased risk of initiating sexual intercourse within a year.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if television viewing is associated with the risk of initiating sexual intercourse in young adolescents. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data obtained from 1994 through 1996. SETTING: The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. PARTICIPANTS: The 4808 students younger than 16 years who had not initiated intercourse before baseline interview. EXPOSURES: Primary exposure was self-reported daily television watching, categorized as low (< 2 hours) or high (> or =2 hours) use. Secondary exposure was parental regulation of television programming watched. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Odds ratio for initiating intercourse by 1-year follow-up, adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: At baseline, 2414 (48.8%) subjects watched television 2 or more hours per day. By 1-year follow-up, 791 (15.6%) subjects had initiated intercourse. Sexual initiation was associated with high television use (adjusted odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.79) and lack of parental regulation of television programming (adjusted odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.80). Most subjects (73.8%) reported strong parental disapproval of sex; their overall rate of initiation was 12.5%, and their risk was independently associated with high television use (adjusted odds ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-2.40) and lack of parental regulation of television programming (adjusted odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.81). Among adolescents who did not report strong parental disapproval, the rate of sexual initiation was higher (24.1%) but unrelated to television use. CONCLUSION: Among young adolescents who reported strong parental disapproval of sex, watching television 2 or more hours per day and lack of parental regulation of television programming were each associated with increased risk of initiating sexual intercourse within a year.