"Let's Get This Party Started!": An Analysis of Health Risk Behavior on MTV Reality Television Shows.
Past research has examined portrayals of risk behavior in various media, including television, advertising, and film. To address an underexplored area, this study analyzed drinking, smoking, and sexual activities in MTV reality programming popular among adolescent viewers from 2004 to 2011. Cast members' demographic attributes were also examined in relation to their risk behaviors. Results demonstrated that drinking and casual sexual behaviors were pervasive among cast members. Smoking and more intense sexual behaviors were also present, but to a smaller degree. Men and young adult cast members were more likely to engage in risk behaviors than women and teenage cast members. Also, ethnic/racial minority characters were shown drinking more often than were White cast members. Interpretations of these findings are discussed based in social cognitive theory and the concept of super peers. Implications for future research are provided.
a Department of Communication, Languages, & Cultures , Coastal Carolina University , Conway , South Carolina , USA.
Mark A
MA
Flynn
b Utah Valley University , Orem , Utah , USA.
David
D
Morin
c Bowling Green State University , Bowling Green , Ohio , USA.
Sung-Yeon
SY
Park
d Fayetteville State University , Fayetteville , North Carolina , USA.
Alexandru
A
Stana
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010379:Peer Group; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D066269:Social Theory; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult