Images of sexual stereotypes in rap videos and the health of African American female adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to determine whether perceiving portrayals of sexual stereotypes in rap music videos was associated with adverse health outcomes among African American adolescent females.


METHODS
African American female adolescents (n = 522) were recruited from community venues. Adolescents completed a survey consisting of questions on sociodemographic characteristics, rap music video viewing habits, and a scale that assessed the primary predictor variable, portrayal of sexual stereotypes in rap music videos. Adolescents also completed an interview that assessed the health outcomes and provided urine for a marijuana screen.


RESULTS
In logistic regression analyses, adolescents who perceived more portrayals of sexual stereotypes in rap music videos were more likely to engage in binge drinking (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.32-11.04, p = 0.01), test positive for marijuana (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.19-9.85, p = 0.02), have multiple sexual partners (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.01-3.71, p = 0.04), and have a negative body image (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.02-2.26, p = 0.04). This is one of the first studies quantitatively examining the relationship between cultural images of sexual stereotypes in rap music videos and a spectrum of adverse health outcomes in African American female adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
Greater attention to this social issue may improve the health of all adolescent females.
Peterson
Shani H
SH
Department of Psychology, Spelman College, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA. sharrisp@spelman.edu
Wingood
Gina M
GM
DiClemente
Ralph J
RJ
Harrington
Kathy
K
Davies
Susan
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D009146:Music; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D012931:Social Environment; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television