Involvement and Young Adults Sexual Health Knowledge - Article Example

 Involvement and Young Adults’ Sexual Health Knowledge It has been previously determined through research that increased sexual indiscrimination exists at high levels beginning at ages 15-24. Behaviors that influence low sexual health such as “binge drinking, sexual intercourse with multiple partners, and low frequencies of condom use” (p.285) are exhibited largely by this age group. In the article, “Magazine Reading and Involvement and Young Adult’s Sexual Health Knowledge, Efficacy, and Behaviors”, researchers in the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan investigated the effects of magazine reading on the sexual health and behaviors of undergraduate students. Particular emphasis has been placed on social media artifacts because they are so heavily used by adolescents and young adults. In addition, individuals within this age group receive a large amount of their information from such sources. Prior to this study, researchers viewed the social media as negatively impacting the sexual decisions of young adults. Although there is valid support for this supposition, the authors of this article suggest there may also be some positive effects of social media artifacts on this population. These effects include educating young adults about sexually transmitted diseases and offering the possible outcomes of premarital sex. Pointedly, the authors state that the majority of earlier research concentrated solely on the television as the primary source of information—there was no focus on magazines. Due to the broad range of sexual topics discussed in modern day magazines that are read by young adults, researchers postulate that these magazines may assist young adults with making decisions about sex such as discussing contraception options with a partner or choosing to refrain from sexual activity until marriage. Consequently, it can be correlated that an increase in magazine reading may lead to an increase in condom/contraceptive and more positive decisions concerning sexual health. Therefore, this article aims at understanding how magazines serve as constructive sources of information and enable young adults to make informed decisions about their sexual health. Throughout Studies 1 and 2, the authors hypothesized that “because of the coverage of sexual health issues in magazines … reading certain genres of magazines (women’s lifestyle, teen, and men’s lifestyle) would be positively correlated with sexual health knowledge, safe-sex self-efficacy, safe-sex intentions, and contraceptive use” (p. 287). For Study 1, a sample of 579 undergraduate students who had contributed to a larger sex behaviors study was used. They ranged from ages 16- 26 with a median age of 19.73 years; the majority of the participants were female (69%) and European American (68%). Most of those who participated reported being heterosexual (85%) and having previously had heterosexual intercourse (59%). In the study, factors examined included level of magazine reading, sexual health knowledge, safe-sex efficacy, contraceptive use, other media controls, and religiosity. The students were examined by means of a survey distributed within two large psychology classes on campus; all participating students consented to the study. For Study 2, a sample of 422 undergraduate students who had also contributed to a larger sex behaviors study was used. The majority of these participants were under the age of 18, with the next cohort being aged 19. Again, the greater part of those studied were female (51%) and European American (70%). 90% of these participants cited that they were heterosexual, while 53% reported having had sexual intercourse before. In this study, additional factors were examined as well as some of those from Study 1: magazine reading, magazine involvement measured in three separate aspects (reading motivations, active reading, and identification), sexual health knowledge, knowledge confidence, safe sex intentions, condom use self-efficacy, contraceptive use, and religiosity. These students were from introductory courses in psychology; all participating students consented to the study and were later debriefed. The results from Study 1 showed that magazine lifestyle reading was positively correlated with sexual health knowledge in both males and females. In addition, an increased sense of safe sex self-efficacy was associated with frequent lifestyle magazine reading. This proved substantial to the first hypothesis regarding whether magazine reading led to greater sexual health knowledge, safe-sex efficacy, and contraceptive use; however, differences between genders were present. Study 2 involved more factors that were measured and accounted for greater certainty on this question. This study featured the same hypothesis except it also sought to determine if magazine reading would account for better safe sex practices in the future. Positive correlations were found again connecting magazine reading and sexual health knowledge, safe sex self-efficacy, and contraceptive use (in women). The in-depth examination as to the type of magazine reading allowed better insight into whether the motivation for reading determined the outcome of how the information affected the individual. Again, a link between frequent lifestyle magazine reading and greater knowledge, efficacy, and safe-sex intentions and more consistent contraceptive use was found. However, again there were gender differences and the motivation for men and the outcome was undetermined. The “findings support the idea that magazine reading is associated with greater sexual health knowledge, at least for women. Women’s reading of both women’s lifestyle and men’s lifestyle magazines was each associated with greater global and specific knowledge. Although reading women’s lifestyle magazines was related to greater knowledge of every topic, reading men’s lifestyle magazines was associated primarily with increased knowledge about condom use” (p. 297). Also, the added part of the hypothesis in Study 2 pertaining to whether frequent lifestyle magazine reading would result in better safe sex behaviors in the future was partially supported for women and not supported at all for men. In Studies 1 and 2, the authors thoroughly outlined their goals and provided adequate information regarding other research done on similar subject matter. They sought to better understand magazine reading alone and its effects on sexual health in young adults, rather than bundling magazines into a category with all forms of social media. These studies did offer solid support that there is some positive connection between magazine reading and the sexual decisions of young adults; so magazines should be considered in other prospective research studies on this topic. The conclusions drawn from the studies were clear, although Study 2, which provided a further in-depth analysis, did not entirely support the original hypothesis. Nevertheless, it should be pointed out that there could be some problem in the measurement scales that were designed to conduct the study. Furthermore, because the statistical analyses that were performed involved correlations, no definite cause or effect can be concluded from the studies. It would prove interesting for future research to compare the effects of television and other social media artifacts with that of magazine reading to establish the actual consequences of magazine reading on the sexual health of young adults. Overall, the studies on magazines and sexual health knowledge were successful in supporting the concept that there does exist some positive impact on social media artifacts—specifically magazines—ability to supply insightful and informative sexual material to young adults. In itself, the article allows those who produce and distribute these artifacts to appreciate that young adults are capturing the inherent messages discussed. Perhaps, those producers can tailor those messages to further assisting young adults with making better decisions concerning their sexual and reproductive health and behaviors. Works Cited Walsh, Jennifer L. & Ward L. Monique. “Magazine Reading and Involvement and Young Adults’ Sexual Health Knowledge, Efficacy, and Behaviors”. Journal of Sex Research. 47.4 (2010): 285-300. Web. Read More