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Risk Exposure From Mainstream and Black-Oriented Movies: Differential Associations With White and Black Adolescents’ Behavior

Sat, May 27, 9:30 to 10:45, Hilton San Diego Bayfront, Floor: 2, Indigo Ballroom H

Abstract

Adolescent exposure to risky behaviors in media is a well-established predictor of such behaviors. However, this is not the case for all adolescents. Black adolescents watch two-and-a-half times more media than White adolescents, yet appear to be less influenced by media risk portrayals. The present study uses survey data from 1,990 Black and White adolescents to investigate whether exposure to sex, alcohol and violent content in mainstream and Black-oriented movies is related to corresponding adolescent behavior among White and Black youth. Results suggest that Black adolescents are mostly unaffected by exposure to risk portrayals in mainstream films, but risk exposure in Black-oriented films is related to behavior in all three domains. White adolescents exhibit exposure-behavior relationships for both film types. Post hoc analysis for sex content suggests that R-rated films drive the effects for sex. Future research that focuses on Black audiences should consider the importance of Black-oriented media.

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