Linking Measures of Media Exposure to Sexual Cognitions and Behaviors: A Review

Abstract

Research linking media exposure with various cognitive and behavioral outcomes has produced mixed results. While some studies have found evidence for a substantial media effect, other studies report a modest effect or no effect at all. The current study aims to advance the understanding of “media effects” by investigating the ways in which exposure to sexual content has been measured and by examining the various outcomes that have been linked to that exposure. A review of relevant articles suggests that studies have become more methodologically sophisticated over time. For example, in recent years, researchers have begun to use more specific exposure measures, capturing exposure to sexual content instead of exposure to a specific genre or to a given medium. The use of these specific sex content exposure measures, in comparison to general or genre exposure measures, have increased the likelihood of finding a significant association between exposure and behavioral outcomes.