Media Use and the Sexual Propensities of Emerging Adults

Abstract

This article reports the findings of an online survey (N = 707) that assessed the predictive power of media use on sexual excitation and inhibition, as conceived by the dual control model (Janssen, Vorst, Finn, & Bancroft, 2002). Media use explained more variance in sexual excitation than inhibition. Moreover, excitation was statistically associated with several media variables (music, network programming, films, Web sites) while inhibition had a statistically robust relationship with music consumption only. In fact, exposure to religious/devotional music was positively and rap/hip-hop was negatively related to sexual inhibition. Advantages of employing the dual control model to media sex research are discussed.

Notes

¹Effects have been found mainly for Caucasian viewers, not for African Americans and Hispanics (Martino et al., 2005).

²This subcomponent of sexual inhibition was measured with the SIS1 questionnaire and conceptualized as “due to the threat of performance failure” (Janssen et al., 2002). If-then statements target situations where concern about sexual performance might arise. It is measured through questions such as: “Once I am sexually aroused, I want to start intercourse right away before I lose my arousal/erection.”