Comparing the Effects of Entertainment and Educational Television Programming on Risky Sexual Behavior

Abstract

Entertainment-education (E-E) may offer an effective way to reduce risky behavior by modeling healthy behaviors. Although there is some empirical evidence to support the effectiveness of the E-E strategy, much of this research has been conducted in countries with different media landscapes than that of the United States and controlled experiments in this context are rare. Moreover, empirical tests of the relative effectiveness of E-E messages and other message formats are needed. In this study, 437 undergraduates participated in a three-wave panel experiment in which they viewed one of three programs (E-E, education, or entertainment). Safer sex intentions and behaviors were measured several days before, immediately following, and 2 weeks after exposure. Results demonstrate that effects of exposure to this E-E program vary depending on gender and past experience with sexual intercourse. In particular, females and those who had not initiated sexual intercourse showed the strongest effects. Discussion of theoretical implications and suggestions for future research are provided.

Notes

¹Four hundred and eighty-nine participants actually attended the laboratory session. However, the data for 23 participants could not be matched to the pretest survey and thus had to be dropped from analysis. Five participants were removed from the sample because they were over age 25 years, and thus not considered emerging adults (Arnett, 2000). Another 24 participants were excluded due to personal experience with unplanned pregnancy.