title: Interaction of media, sexual activity and academic achievement in adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adolescence is a period when the individual is vulnerable and exposure to sexually implicit/explicit programs on television and internet can influence their sexual behaviour and make them more permissive towards premarital sex, which is known to influence their academic performance. This can be modified by parental discussion on these matters with their children. There have been only few studies from India that have explored such issues therefore this study aimed to explore the impact of television, internet and parental discussion on sexual activity and academic performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in two co-education schools using a self reporting questionnaire administered to students of class IX-XII. This study evaluated the relation of academic performance, exposure to media such as television & internet to sexual activity & academic performance of the students and the role of parental discussion on these.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study sample size was 586. There is no significant association between the number of hours of watching television per day and academic performance as measured by marks in examinations. Significant positive association was found among boys between sexual contact and average score in academics & unsupervised use of internet. In both genders a significant positive association was found between those watching English serials, movies and increased chances of indulging in sexual activity while a negative relation with those watching Cartoons. There is no significant difference in occurrence of sexual contact in those who discussed sexual matters with parents and those who did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This being first of it's kind of study from India and a cross sectional study, further prospective and detailed studies are warranted to delineate the interaction of media, parental discussion, academic performance and sexual activity.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Dept of Psychiatry, AFMC, Pune-40, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shashi Kumar
authors.affiliation: Commandant, 167 MH, C/O 56 APO, India.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Senior Consultant (Psychiatry), CH (AF), Bengaluru, India.
authors.forename: H R A
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Prabhu
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor & HOD, Dept of Psychiatry, AFMC, Pune 411040, India.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Dept of Psychiatry, AFMC, Pune-40, India.
authors.forename: Jyoti
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.affiliation: Resident (Psychiatry), Institute of Mental Health, Agra, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seema
authors.affiliation: Scientist, 'E', Dept of Community Medicine, AFMC, Pune 411040, India.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Basannar
keywords: Academics; Adolescent sexuality; Internet; Television