Register      Login
Sexual Health Sexual Health Society
Publishing on sexual health from the widest perspective
RESEARCH ARTICLE

African-American men’s exposure to music videos and their sexual attitudes and risk behaviour

Ralph J. DiClemente A B E , Adannaa O. Alexander A , Nikia D. Braxton A , JaNelle M. Ricks C and Puja Seth A B D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

B Emory Center for AIDS Research, Social and Behavioral Sciences Core, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

C College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.

D Current address: Division of Global HIV/AIDS at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA.

E Corresponding author. Email: rdiclem@emory.edu

Sexual Health 10(3) 279-281 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH12176
Submitted: 16 October 2012  Accepted: 29 October 2012   Published: 1 March 2013

Abstract

Background: Media is a social determinant of HIV and sexually transmissible infection (STI) risk. However, limited empirical data have examined men’s media exposure and their sexual attitudes and behaviour towards women. Methods: Eighty heterosexual African-American men were assessed on their exposure to music videos, sexual attitudes and behaviour. They also were tested for STIs. Results: Findings indicated that men influenced by music videos reported more sexual adventurism, more condom barriers, more lifetime sexual partners, more condom request refusals, substance abuse and a history of incarceration. Conclusions: Further longitudinal research is needed to better understand this relationship and to address the role of media in HIV and STI prevention interventions.

Additional keywords: Black, HIV, social determinants, STI.


References

[1]  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV among African Americans. Atlanta: CDC; 2011. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/FastFacts-AA-FINAL508COMP.pdf [Verified 11 January 2013]

[2]  Wester SR, Crown CL, Quatman GL, Heesacker M. The influence of sexually violent rap music on attitudes of men with little prior exposure. Psychol Women Q 1997; 21 497–508.
The influence of sexually violent rap music on attitudes of men with little prior exposure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[3]  McNair B. Mediated sex: pornography and postmodern culture. London: Arnold; 1996.

[4]  Kunkel D, Biely E, Eyal K, Cope-Farrar K, Donnerstein E, Fandrich R. Sex on TV 3: a biennial report of the Kaiser Family Foundation. Menlo Park: Kaiser Family Foundation; 2003.

[5]  Walsh-Childers K. Sexual health coverage: women’s, men’s, teen and other and other specialty magazines. Columbia J Rev 1997; 36 1–12.

[6]  Kubrin CE, Weitzer R. Rap music’s violent and misogynistic effects: fact or fiction? In: Deflem M, editor. Popular culture, crime and social control. Sociology of crime, law and deviance, volume 14. Binglye: Emerald Group Publishing Limited; 2010. pp. 121–43.

[7]  Martino SC, Collins RL, Elliott MN, Strachman A, Kanouse DE, Berry SH. Exposure to degrading versus nondegrading music lyrics and sexual behavior among youth. Pediatrics 2006; 118 e430–41.
Exposure to degrading versus nondegrading music lyrics and sexual behavior among youth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[8]  Peterson SH, Wingood GM, DiClemente RJ, Harrington K, Davies S. Images of sexual stereotypes in rap videos and the health of African American female adolescents. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2007; 16 1157–64.
Images of sexual stereotypes in rap videos and the health of African American female adolescents.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[9]  Samson L, Grabe ME. Media use and the sexual propensities of emerging adults. J Broadcast Electron Media 2012; 56 280–98.
Media use and the sexual propensities of emerging adults.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[10]  Smith SL. From Dr. Dre to Dismissed: assessing violence, sex, and substance use on MTV. Crit Stud Media Commun 2005; 22 89–98.
From Dr. Dre to Dismissed: assessing violence, sex, and substance use on MTV.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[11]  Zhang Y, Miller LE, Harrison K. The relationship between exposure to sexual music videos and young adults’ sexual attitudes. J Broadcast Electron Media 2008; 52 368–86.
The relationship between exposure to sexual music videos and young adults’ sexual attitudes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[12]  Zillmann D, Aust CF, Hoffman KD, Love CC, Ordman VL, Pope JT, et al Radical rap: does it further ethnic division? Basic Appl Soc Psych 1995; 16 1–25.

[13]  Dixon TL, Zhang Y, Conrad K. Self-esteem, misogyny and afrocentricity: an examination of the relationship between rap music consumption and African American perceptions. Group Process Intergroup Relat 2009; 12 345–60.
Self-esteem, misogyny and afrocentricity: an examination of the relationship between rap music consumption and African American perceptions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[14]  Rose T. Black noise: rap music and black culture in contemporary America. Hanover: Wesleyan University Press; 1994.

[15]  Chen MJ, Miller BA, Grube JW, Waiters ED. Music, substance use, and aggression. J Stud Alcohol 2006; 67 373–81.

[16]  Brown JD, L’Engle KL, Pardun CJ, Guo G, Kenneavy K, Jackson C. Sexy media matter: exposure to sexual content in music, movies, television, and magazines predicts Black and White adolescents’ sexual behavior. Pediatrics 2006; 117 1018–27.
Sexy media matter: exposure to sexual content in music, movies, television, and magazines predicts Black and White adolescents’ sexual behavior.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[17]  Johnson JD, Jackson LA, Gatto L. Violent attitudes and deferred academic aspirations: deleterious effects of exposure to rap music. Basic Appl Soc Psych 1995; 16 27–41.

[18]  Wingood GM, DiClemente RJ, Bernhardt JM, Harrington K, Davies SL, Robillard A, et al A prospective study of exposure to rap music videos and African American female adolescents’ health. Am J Public Health 2003; 93 437
A prospective study of exposure to rap music videos and African American female adolescents’ health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[19]  Straubhaar J, LaRose R, Davenport L. Media now: understanding media, culture, and technology. Beverley: Wadsworth Publishing Company; 2011.

[20]  Miranda D, Claes M. Rap music genres and deviant behaviors in French-Canadian adolescents. J Youth Adolesc 2004; 33 113–22.
Rap music genres and deviant behaviors in French-Canadian adolescents.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[21]  Johnson JD, Adams MS, Ashburn L, Reed W. Differential gender effects of exposure to rap music on African American adolescents’ acceptance of teen dating violence. Sex Roles 1995; 33 597–605.
Differential gender effects of exposure to rap music on African American adolescents’ acceptance of teen dating violence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[22]  Arnett JJ. Adolescents’ uses of media for self-socialization. J Youth Adolesc 1995; 24 519–33.
Adolescents’ uses of media for self-socialization.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |