The influence of television on adolescent girls' sexual attitudes and behaviour Tebogo Moswang and Ilse Ruane

This study explored how television influences the sexual attitudes and behaviour of adolescent girls in Mabopane, a black township in Gauteng, South Africa. Qualitative research was used as it allowed the first author to obtain rich data from the participants who were between the ages of 16 and 17 and enrolled for grades 11 and 12. Although the area of adolescent sexual behaviour has been widely researched, there appears to be a lack of information concerning adolescents' sexual behaviour and attitudes relating to Africa, especially South Africa. The first author investigated adolescent girls' experiences using in-depth individual interviews, and did a thematic content analysis of the textual data she gathered from the participants. The results of this study indicated that adolescent girls from Mabopane feel that television does influence their sexual attitudes and behaviour, and that television does not display the consequences of sex, thus influencing adolescents to engage in such behaviour. Furthermore, the participants indicated that television is not the only influence in their lives; other factors, such as parental guidance and peer pressure, also contribute to shaping their sexual attitudes and behaviour. Frequent television viewing was mentioned as resulting in adolescents changing their sexual beliefs and adopting behaviours seen on television.