A Pornography Literacy Class for Youth: Results of a Feasibility and Efficacy Pilot Study |
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Authors: | Emily F Rothman Avanti Adhia Tiffany T Christensen Jennifer Paruk Jessica Alder Nicole Daley |
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Institution: | 1. Boston Public Health Commission, Division of Violence Prevention, Boston, MA, USA;2. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA;3. Boston University School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA |
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Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of a media literacy curriculum focused on pornography among a sample of U.S-based, urban-residing youth. Participants were 24 youth between the ages of 15–24 years old, although 65% were 17–18 years old. The sample was 43% female, 43% male, 9% transgender, 52% Black, 22% Hispanic, 13% other race, 64% heterosexual, 14% gay, lesbian or bisexual, and 18% other sexual orientation. Participants completed a pre-test prior to the first class session and a post-test after the fifth and final session. Pornography-related knowledge increased from pre- to post-test. A change in the anticipated direction was observed for some pornography-related attitudes, and some pornography-related behavioral intentions. Pornography-related behavior (e.g., seeking out pornography for the first time) did not change from pre- to post-test. The novelty of these findings are two-fold. First, the study demonstrated that it is feasible to implement a pornography literacy curriculum in a nonschool setting, and second, that this particular curriculum may have had some positive impact. |
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Keywords: | Pornography sexually explicit media media literacy sex education |
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