Deseret News | Reader comments: Sexy TV shows linked to teen pregnancies

Reader comments
Sexy TV shows linked to teen pregnancies

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Surprised anyone? | 1:13 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Sex education without moral teaching= more pregnancies, more abortions, more STD and more ruined lives (especially the children). But some will not be convinced. "Don't confuse me with facts (the facts this research proves) my mind is made up"! The more teenagers see and hear about sex without moral guidance, the more problems they, society and future generations will have.

wilson | 1:23 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

"Groundbreaking research"? Things like this seem pretty obvious to me.

I'm all for free speech, but . . | 1:36 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

While I'm all for free speech, the cost to our country from Hollywood's excesses is staggering. Well, duh . . any reasonable parent could tell you teen sexual activity and pregnancy are related to the "popular culture" (MTV, R and X rated movies, and even many PG-13 movies, and the raunchy TV shows)

There is no socially redeeming value to this trash - why don't we tax it - the government is always looking for a way to increase revenue. Why not do so in a way which benefits our society?

Comments continue below

Marigold | 3:31 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Finally, confirmation of what we have all really believed. After reading this can anyone really justify their "right" to view pornography because it causes no harm? I had a teen girl tell me that she links her pregnancy to when she started to view R rated movies.

"Ground breaking research" | 3:57 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

DUH!

19 | 4:58 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

You mean what goes into one's mind influences their behavior??? Amazing! Whodathunkit.

Groundbreaking???? | 5:07 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Who in the world was so dumb they didn't see this one coming? It's a big Homer Duhh!

Joe | 6:59 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Companies spend millions of dollars to advertise goods and services on TV, hoping to influence our buying habits. If such commercials had no influence on our buying habits, that spending would stop.

People will buy what the show advertises. If it is sex, then that's what you influence.

If its violence? Duhh, indeed!

Applies to violent shows as well | 7:06 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

If people think it is so obvious that watching sexually saturated shows is linked to pregnancy, I would also like to submit that watching violent shows is linked to violent behavior. Same obvious results! I am amazed that some people think that what they watch and listen to has no effect on their behavior!!!

Anonymous | 7:08 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Is this a cause and effect relationship, or do sexually active teens tend to also exist in an environment where they watch more of this stuff as an aside? I imagine they also engage in other destructive and anti social behaviours, but no one is linking increased drug use to watching desperate housewives. We've an unhealthy attitude towards sex, and a lot of things in this nation and especially in Utah. Don't be surprised that a lot of people slip through the fingers of the tightened grasp.

MMMM | 7:13 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I think it is time to teach about sexual relations, and stop talking about the bee and the flower!!!

Talking about how our body works is not "inmoral" or "not religious", it is important and more safe for our kids and youth!!!

Here's an idea: | 7:30 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Turn of the @#%! TV!

lost in DC | 7:44 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

sex sales, and that's all the programmers and advertisers care about - selling. They don't care about the consequences.

Trish M. | 7:50 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Media will never change for the better. That's why we shut it off! This article just reinforces our lifestyle decision.

My teenagers read, study, set up games in fields for the neighborhood kids, ride bikes, make stop-action movies, have jobs . . . just not enough time in the world for the stupidity of TV and movies. We see maybe two movies a month, and even then we feel like we could have been doing something more constructive with our time.

The Rock | 7:51 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Duh!

Now let's find some kid who got an STD (like AIDS) in part, due to the influence of suggestive entertainment, and sue them down to their shorts.

Porn may be legal; however, they should have to clean up the mess they leave behind.

Paul Gibbs | 7:59 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

As a tennager, I watched nothing but "Little House on the Prairie" reruns, and I didn't even HAVE hormones. I am incapable of saying, thinking or doing ANYTHINg unless it's on TV first.

me | 8:21 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I'm with "ground breaking research". Duh!

Turn it off | 8:24 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I might watch the news once or twice a week if even that. I have better things to do with my time than fill my mind with worthless crap.

barbara | 8:26 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

For this information someone paid scientific researchers?????

To: Groundbreaking??? | 8:57 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Dear Groundbreaking???,

Homer Simpson says "D'oh" not Duhhh like you wrote.

Here's the truth about this study: It means nothing.

I could make a similar argument that teenage boys who watch sports are more likely to participate in sports, when the opposite is probably the case. The boys watch sports because they play them first. The initial act leads to the viewing of a related act. These girls who are getting pregnant seek out the sexy TV shows. They have that predisposed interest in sex, so they seek out validation for it. The fact that this study was even published is ridiculous. Good for a laugh though.

Joe Moe | 9:04 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Seems like common sense to most, but for scientific purposes, and to illuminate (or try to illuminate) the minds of the more obstinate among us, it's good they do this kind of nuts and bolts research.

Re: Paul Gibbs | 9:28 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I'm sorry to hear that Paul. You should watch less TV.

Ute in Philadelphia | 9:40 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Do 12-17 yr old boys watch "Sex in the City"? Eeeew!

...and to the 1st comment on this thread, "Surprised anyone?", "Sex education without moral teaching= more pregnancies, more abortions, more STD and more ruined lives (especially the children)", I hope it was not your intent to imply sexy TV shows as sex education, because if children are learning about sex from TV, rather than at home, or at school from licensed educators in proper curriculum format, we all have bigger problems to address than "Desperate Housewives".

Johnny Utah #9 | 9:46 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Here's some more groundbreaking info:

Lack of parental guidance also leads to teen pregnancies; I'm sure more so than a TV show ever could. People need to start at the source of their kids problems and quit trying to blame everything else in the world.

Children need to be raised by their parents, not the TV.

Mark | 10:04 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Wow! Why is this news? Because someone is actually acknowledging what most intelligent human beings already knew? Hey Capt. Smith, the Titanic hit an iceberg an hour ago.

More groundbreaking | 10:05 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

In another related story, researches have identified another link to early teen pregnacies and STDs. In 100% of those teen girls involved in the case study, they had all used #2 pencils within 9 months of having pre-marital sex. Therefore, it has been concluded that teen girls who use #2 pencils are among the HIGHEST at-risk for this epidemic.

Parents: If you love your children, don't send them to schools. They use #2 pencils.

Me | 10:05 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I think it's great to reinforce this information from time to time. Society needs reminders. This article was not meant for the duh people, but for those people who are ignorant of the effect media has on us and our children. I've witnessed some really ignorant parents allow their small children to watch violent horror movies with them, and while their children were cringing or crying in fright, the only thing their parents told them was, "it's just a movie." Nice way to protect and nuture their kids. HELLO! It's very disappointing.

Hmmm... | 10:25 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I wonder if the music we listen to has any effect on us...

TV sex | 10:28 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

The problem with these shows too is that they give an unreal representation of sexual relationships. There are rarely any consequences, and every first kiss or first time or anytime is the most romantic experience ever. These shows start to paint pictures in peoples minds which lead to unrealistic expectations.

wallofvoodoo | 10:45 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Haven't had TV for a couple of years and I don't miss it at all. If we really wan't to watch something, we can go to Grandma's house and watch it or rent a DVD. I don't think I'll ever get TV again.
Statistically the study doesn't make a clear connection (too many variables not addressed). However, common sense would lead one to say DUH! Whether they gravitate after the fact or are promiscious because of the TV shows, it ends up with the behavior being reinforced one way or the other.

CougarKeith | 10:52 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I became a hockey player as a kid from watching it on TV so there goes YOUR THEORY! I learned how to play sports by watching sports, learned the rules and what not by watching and EMULATING! Makes sense to me that girls and boys delve into drugs, drinking and sex IN PART because they see it on TV and it is "The Norm" in the TV world, so why not in their life? Oh "re: groundbreaking", I also got interested in golf, skiing, lacrosse, basketball, and Curling that fun Canadian Rock Sliding Sport on Ice! Growing up in Western NY, we played stuff like that! So for you to say that was WRONG! We played Cowboys and Indians, where did we get that idea? How about The Sunday Afternoon Movies on TV! Wrestling like the WWE, From those old time Wrestling TV shows! Point made yet? How about playing Lone Ranger, or Army and stuff like that? Think it just popped into our heads? IT CAME FROM TV! It's the same thing only more mature and sadly with more serious consequences than an occasional stitch or two from a rock thrown as a hand grenade hitting someone!

Regular guy | 11:02 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Re: To Groundbreaking???
THEY HAVE A PREDISPOSED INTEREST IN SEX, so they seek out validation for it. What does that mean? A predisposed interest in sex. Hmmm.
If you don't believe that looking at unhealthy sexual behavior on tv influences people to make STUPID decisions, unhealthy decisions, maybe you should fight for the right of sex offenders to have pornography under their beds. Really, why aren't you fighting the good fight for them, they are predisposed, YOU MUST FIGHT FOR THEM "To: Groundbreaking???!!!!!!

news break | 11:03 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

yes even then , don't try to ask for breaks in the community like when your kids sit on a corner in a small town and act like nothing is going down..your the clown!!

Socrates Fortlow | 11:07 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

This purported study is a monument to simplistic thinking. If it's correct -- which I sincerely doubt -- then why aren't suggestible kids who watch violent TV shows and movies grabbing guns and running out into the street to slaughter everybody who crosses theit paths? Then again, maybe the small minds who tremble at the thought of sex on TV would rather have high body counts.

Brynn | 11:09 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Surprise, surprise.

Frasier Crane | 11:22 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

This article goes hand in hand w/ the recent study that violent video games lead to aggressive behavior. Doesn't it?

Duh! | 11:26 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

No kidding. It's not rocket science. You watch shows designed to tantalize and you and you're going to want to "get some".

Reality TV hater. | 11:32 a.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Reality TV is the same. Are we all idiots like the people on TV? We don't watch any of it for two reasons. First, all the bad stuff, sex violence, language ect. Second it is just stupid. All new TV is bad. Some of the old shows are okay.

RE: Paul Gibbs | 12:26 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

All I ever learned from watching Little House on the Prairie every week as a youngster was that Mary Ingalls was HOT! See what you can learn from even the "wholesome" shows on TV? It all depends on where YOUR mind is at; the TV shows have little or no effect at all. I'll bet a good majority of the girls in the study also watched "Dancing with the Stars" or some other inane program, but you don't see those being blamed.

Here it is, Get ready... | 12:36 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

TALK ABOUT A BLINDING FLASH OF THE OBVIOUS!!!!!!

Ema | 12:53 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

What what I read in this article, this study failed to establish an actual cause and effect correlation between watching these shows and getting pregnant.

The article even says: "But the study didn't adequately address other issues, such as self-esteem, family values and income, contends Elizabeth Schroeder, executive director of Answer, a teen sex education program based at Rutgers University."

I think the parenting factor (including adequate supervision) is being wrongly ignored here.

zeus | 1:04 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Paul,
I got it. Too bad some didn't.

dakota | 1:19 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

you guys are right.the more teens Know about sex without guidence the more destruction their is. that is mainly why u adults should help us.

Whats New! | 1:28 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

This world and all its vices has been foretold by the scriptures and church leaders the medium of delivering of messages can be used for good and evil and its the more reason that we should be elert and watchful for that evil one who seeks to destroy individuals and families.
We need to be in tune with the spirit to see throught the cunning messages of those who pushes the agenda of the evil one.

Full Time Dad | 1:45 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Re the influence of parents -- parents have more influence over their Kids' behavior than any other single thing. This study should be a wake up call to parents. Get involved in your kids' lives, answer the questions and issues that these shows raise (if you even allow this stuff in your home) in a context of your choosing. Your kids will appreciate your interest and concern in their lives and will learn the lessons they need to raise their own kids when the time comes. They will teach the principles, ethics and morality they learn from your teaching (mostly your example). If you think these tv shows are inappropriate, don't watch them, and make sure you kids don't watch them either (and make sure they know why)! Otherwise, this 'common sense' study is wasted.

Strained at a gnat | 1:53 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I've been watching "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader" and now I want to go back to the 5th grade. I'm definitely smart enough.

And I think I can dance too!

Causation Versus Correlation | 1:53 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

Those of you thinking TV is the main culprit here need to study up on causation versus correlation.

lynn | 2:16 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

So how much money was paid for this "groundbreaking" discovery? Let me save the researchers the time and $$$ of similar "groundbreaking discoveries":
1.If kids are going steady for longer than any a couple of months they WILL get into some serious petting and/or have some sort of sexual relations.
2.If a child is promiscuous they will probably get pregnant/get someone pregnant if there is no birth control.
3. If you give your kids EVERYTHING they will not amount to ANYTHING.

Bill | 2:19 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I watch nothing but PBS "Bill Moyer's Journal," and I'm becoming very boring. I also use #2 pencils, but have not become pregnant.

Strained at a gnat | 2:33 p.m. Nov. 3, 2008

I saw reruns of "Different Strokes". Now I want to adopt Gary Coleman.

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