Television viewing and risk of sexual initiation by young adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if television viewing is associated with the risk of initiating sexual intercourse in young adolescents.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of data obtained from 1994 through 1996.


METHODS
The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.


METHODS
The 4808 students younger than 16 years who had not initiated intercourse before baseline interview.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
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
Sarah L
SL
Ashby
Christine M
CM
Arcari
M Bruce
MB
Edmonson
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003075:Coitus; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D012307:Risk Factors; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology