Teens, Sex, and Media Effects: Understanding Media’s Influence on Adolescent Sexuality, Sexual Health, and Advocacy

With teens having more control and choice over their media consumption than ever before, this book highlights how the current media landscape impacts adolescent sexuality in the areas of identity development, romantic and sexual relationships, sexual health, and advocacy and education.

Recognizing that teens are often media multitaskers and media effects do not occur in isolation by platform, the book includes examinations of a wide variety of media types and content to provide a more comprehensive look at the media landscape and its impact on teen sexuality. While the text includes empirical, data-driven chapters that are authored by experts in the field, it also prioritizes the diverse voices of teens throughout. All research studies featured in the book are informed by data collection with teens themselves from various parts of the world representing a range of teen identities.

This is a key text for researchers and undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of communication (including media effects and health communication); human development; psychology; and public health, with relevance to parents, educators, and policy makers as well.

Stacey J.T. Hust, Ph.D., Washington State University, United States, is a professor of health communication and Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and College Operations. She studies how media influence adolescents’ romantic and sexual lives.

Rebecca Ortiz, Ph.D., Syracuse University, United States, is an associate professor in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications whose research focuses on sexual health promotion, sexual violence prevention, and sexual media effects on adolescents and young adults.

Jessica Fitts Willoughby, Ph.D., Washington State University, United States, is a Lester M. Smith Distinguished Associate Professor in the Murrow College of Communication. She examines how media can be used to improve health attitudes and behaviors among adolescents.