1. Sexual Imagery & Thinking About Sex
Abstract
The current study examined the relationship between sexual content in music videos, sexual cognitions, and sexual risk among emerging adults. Based on sexual script theory, it was hypothesized that reported exposure to sexual content in music videos would be associated with increased sexual risk and that particular sexual cognitions would mediate this relationship. Participants included 902 male and female college students from Caucasian, African American, Asian, and Hispanic backgrounds who preferred rap, dance, R&B, pop, rock, and country music genres. Findings indicated that the amount of sexual content in artist music videos varied as a function of music genre, artist gender, and whether the artist performed solo or in a group. Results confirmed the proposed mediational model in that exposure to sexual content in music videos was associated with adopting specific sexual cognitions. Sexual cognitions then predicted participants’ level of sexual risk.
Sexual Imagery & Thinking About Sex
Chrysalis Wright, Mark Rubin, & Jennifer McDonnell
University of Central Florida
Results
Music Video Sexual Content
A univariate analysis of variance was conducted to determine whether sexual content in music videos varied based on music genre, artist gender and ethnicity, as well as solo or group artists. Findings were significant for music genre, F (4, 20) = 5.94, p = .02, artist gender, F (2, 20) = 4.53, p = .05, and solo vs. group artists, F (1, 20) = 17.49, p = Findings were not significant for artist ethnicity, F (2, 20) = .28, p = .76. No significant interaction effects were found. Descriptive statistics for music genre, artist gender, and solo or group artists can be found in Table 1.
Intercorrelation of Study Variables
Intercorrelations of study measures can be found in Table 2. There was some correlation among the sociodemographic variables included. Of particular interest, however, was the relationship between the sociodemographic variables with sexual cognitions, sexual risk, and exposure to sexual content in music videos as well as the relationship between sexual cognitions, sexual risk, and exposure to sexual content in music videos.
Mediational Model
In order to test the hypothesis that exposure to sexual content in music videos influences sexual cognitions, which, in turn, impact sexual risk, we used Hayes’ (2013) bootstrapping method. The total effect of exposure to sexual content in music videos on sexual risk was significant, b = 3.57, SE = 1.18, t(1) = 3.03, p = .003, 95% CI (1.26, 5.88), and the direct effect controlling for problematic sexual cognitions was also significant but smaller in size, b = 2.94, SE = 1.18, t(1) = 2.49, p = .01, 95% CI (.63, 5.26). The indirect effect was significant, b = .63, SE = .24, 95% CI (.25, 1.21). These results indicate a mediation effect. As can be seen in Figure 1, the relation between exposure to sexual content in music videos and sexual risk was mediated by problematic sexual cognitions.
Discussion
In this study, participants’ sexual cognitions were found to mediate the relationship between exposure to sexual content in music videos and sexual risk (see Figure 1). Results indicated that exposure to sexual content in music videos was associated with problematic sexual cognitions. This is in agreement with previous research that has found a relationship between sexual content in music videos and sexual cognitions.
The results of the current study also indicated that holding problematic sexual cognitions is associated with increased sexual risk. This is in line with the partially mediated model that Ward and colleagues (2011) identified. Sexual content in music videos may be associated with problematic sexual cognitions due to their "consistent, visual, and explicit [nature]" (Ward et al., 2011, pp. 599). Additionally, music may serve as a “super peer” in that music video content can impact cognition, which can affect actual behaviors.
Based on sexual script theory then, participants exposed to sexual content in music videos learned and adopted traditional sexual scripts related to their gender. Participants then engaged in sexual activity consistent with the sexual cognitions learned via music videos, which is consistent with previous research that has examined media sexual content and sexual scripts.
Method
Participants included 902 college students from a large southeastern public research university who were recruited through their undergraduate psychology courses. Participants received extra credit for completing the minute online questionnaire. The majority of participants were female (n = 647, 71.7%) and identified as White (n = 613, 68%). The age of students ranged from 18 to 59 years (M = 21.58).
Participants answered demographic items followed by questions related to social class. A total of 77 questions were used to assess participants sexual cognitions (dating is a game or recreational sport, men are sex driven, women are sex objects, men are tough, feminine and masculine ideals, sexual stereotypes, adversarial sexual beliefs, sexual conservatism). A social cognition aggregate measure was used in analyses. Participants also completed Turchik and Garske’s sexual risk survey.
Participants rated 55 music artists on how frequently they watched music videos of the artists. Ratings ranged from 1(never) to 5 (daily). Exposure to sexual content in music videos were based on measures of content analysis using the frequency method for the most current popular songs performed by the top 25 rated artists by participants using two independent raters. Raters coded for sexual behavior and body language, sexual language, and demeaning messages. Songs for each artist were selected from the top-40 charts that had been given air play on radio stations and music television. Inter-rater reliability was assessed using intra class reliability and was high in the current study (.92). A total exposure variable was created by summing the video content across the artists that participants’ reported exposure to. The total exposure variable for music videos was used in analysis.
Table 2. Intercorrelations of Study Variables
Table 1. Sexual Content in Music Videos 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
1.Age
2.Gender
.00
3.Hispanic
-.02
-.72*
4.Black
-.37*
-.12*
5.White
.06***
.33*
-.48*
-.55*
6.Asian
-.04
.37*
-.09**
-.10*
-.38*
7.Social class
-.24*
.10#
-.11***
-.10***
.17*
-.03
8.Music videos
-.11*
.05
.04
.07***
-.01
9. Sexual Cognitions
.09**
-.06#
.12***
.14*
10.Sexual Risk
-.05
-.07***
.06
.10*
Sexual Content in Music Videos
Music Genre M SD
Pop
12.28
17.94
R&B
18.30
9.19
Rap
8.04
10.85
Rock
.20
.28
Dance
19.10
26.44
Country
8.93
6.65
Artist Gender
Male
12.52
15.21
Female
8.87
10.35
Solo Artist
10.51
11.09
Artist Group
11.95
23.37
Figure 1. Mediational Model
Note: Beta values unstandardized. Values in parentheses represent total effects.
*p<.01, **p<.001
*p<.001, **p<.01, ***p<.05, #p<.10