Abstract:
This paper explores how specific media images affect adolescent
attitudes and outcomes. The specific context examined is the widely
viewed MTV franchise, 16 and Pregnant, a series of reality TV shows
including the Teen Mom sequels, which follow the lives of pregnant
teenagers during the end of their pregnancy and early days of
motherhood. We investigate whether the show influenced teens’ interest
in contraceptive use or abortion, and whether it ultimately altered teen
childbearing outcomes. We use data from Google Trends and Twitter to
document changes in searches and tweets resulting from the show, Nielsen
ratings data to capture geographic variation in viewership, and Vital
Statistics birth data to measure changes in teen birth rates. We find
that 16 and Pregnant led to more searches and tweets regarding birth
control and abortion, and ultimately led to a 5.7 percent reduction in
teen births in the 18 months following its introduction. This accounts
for around one-third of the overall decline in teen births in the United
States during that period.
Source: National Bureau of Economic Research
Download full pdf publication: Media Influences on Social Outcomes: The Impact of MTV's 16 and Pregnant on Teen Childbearing
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