Why is Reality Television (TV) so Appealing? An Examination of Factors Affecting Adolescent Television Viewing

Abstract

This paper proposes to examine the various reasons why adolescents watch reality television. The sample included 178 students in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 attending a suburban high school. The Incidence of Reality Television Viewing Scale measured prevalence of adolescent television viewing. Teens who displayed higher incidences of reality television viewing significantly reported lower levels of life satisfaction. Peer acceptance, voyeurism, perceptions of real life situations, and adolescent implementation of reality television behavior or social learning are significant factors influencing adolescent reality television viewing. While age does not significantly impact adolescent television viewing, gender does as girls watch reality television more than boys, are more likely to exhibit voyeurism, display a greater need for peer acceptance, utilize what they had learned from reality television viewing, and believe what they see as real in reality television. Overall, GPA has significant influence on the factors of voyeurism, peer acceptance, and adolescent implementation of reality television behavior or social learning. This study also found a significant relationship between the incidence of social networking and the incidence of reality television viewing as adolescents who indicate a greater incidence of social networking also exhibit a greater incidence of reality television viewing.