Well-Duh!

From Zenit "Recent studies confirm long- standing concerns about how the media influence children and adolescents."(Zenit News Aug 19th).

Not to be so blase' about what we seemed to already know, the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics published a study done with 1461 teens ages 12-17. This particular study was geared towards degrading vs non degrading music and it's effect on the teens:

In our weighted longitudinal sample, 17% had ever had intercourse at baseline, 29% at the first follow-up assessment, and 53% at the second follow-up assessment...

... the influence of sexual music content on teens' sexual development is specific to content that is sexually degrading. In our coding scheme, lyrics classified as degrading depicted sexually insatiable men pursuing women valued only as sex objects. These types of portrayals objectify and degrade women in ways that are obvious but do the same to men by depicting them as sex-driven studs whose individual desires are subsumed in their gender role. Adolescents who listen to a lot of music containing these objectifying and limiting characterizations of sexuality progress more quickly in their sexual behavior, regardless of their race or gender.

Now, I'm the first one to be careful to criticize music to a kid's face. Music is SUCH an important part of their lives, esp now that everyone seems to have their own IPod. However, I think have discussions about what they are listening to is paramount. BIG.

The study is worth a look over. Don't worry about the stats language, you'll get the gist of what is going on. I think the article from Zenit does a good job of summing it up.