title: Depictions of tobacco use in 2007 broadcast television programming popular among US youth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the quantity of tobacco use in network television programming popular among US youth and to examine variation in tobacco depictions by TV Parental Guidelines system rating and television network.
  
  
  METHODS
  A content analysis was conducted of broadcast network television programming popular among youth. Nielsen viewership rating data were used to identify a sample of top-rated television series for youth aged 12 to 17 years during the fall 2007 television season. Depictions of tobacco use per television episode were examined by TV Parental Guidelines rating and television network. χ(2) testing was used to examine differences in proportions of tobacco depictions across television episode ratings and networks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data collection and analysis were conducted at the American Legacy Foundation (now known as Legacy).
  
  
  METHODS
  Broadcast television viewers in 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tobacco use depictions on broadcast television were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty percent of television episodes examined had at least 1 depiction of tobacco use. Of these depictions, 89% were of cigarettes. Among episodes rated TV-PG (ie, parental guidance suggested) (N = 73), 50% showed 1 or more incidents of cigarette use, in contrast to 26% of TV-14 (ie, parents strongly cautioned) episodes. The percentage of episodes with any tobacco use depictions was highest on the FOX network (44%; n = 32), followed closely by The CW (CBS-Warner Brothers) (41%; n = 30).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Substantial tobacco use was observed in television shows popular among youth. It is projected that almost 1 million youth were exposed to tobacco depictions through the programming examined. Tobacco use on television should be a cause for concern, particularly because of the high volume of television viewing among younger audiences.
authors.affiliation: Legacy, 1724 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA. jcullen@legacyforhealth.org
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: Natasha A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Sokol
authors.forename: Deepika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Slawek
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vallone
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Healton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D062789:Tobacco Products