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ARTICLES

The Relationship Between “Teen Mom” Reality Programming and Teenagers' Beliefs About Teen Parenthood

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Pages 830-852
Accepted author version posted online: 03 Jul 2014
Published online: 17 Oct 2014
 

A survey was conducted with U.S. high school students (M = 16.57 years of age) from the Midwest to examine whether exposure to “teen mom” reality programming (e.g., 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom) was related to teens' perceptions of teen parenthood. Contrary to our hypotheses, analyses revealed that exposure to teen mom reality programming was related to an increased tendency to believe that teen mothers have an enviable quality of life, a high income, and involved fathers. Teens who perceived reality television as realistic were most likely to hold these perceptions. The findings are discussed in terms of cultivation theory.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nicole Martins

Nicole Martins (Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2004) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Telecommunications at Indiana University. Her research interests include the social and psychological impact of the mass media on children and adolescents.

Robin E. Jensen

Robin E. Jensen (Ph.D., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2007) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at University of Utah. Her research interests include historical and contemporary discourses concerning health science, and gender.

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