Watching Reality TV Programs With Concurrent Sexual and Alcohol Themes Is Associated With Risky Drinking and Sexual Experiences

The real-life risks associated with engaging in sexual behavior while intoxicated or high are rarely depicted on television. This study examined whether heavy exposure to sexual and alcohol content on fictional and reality TV programs would be associated with emerging adults’ risky sexual and alcohol experiences. Of particular interest were programs in which sexual and alcohol themes were perceived to co-occur most strongly and the genre of TV exposure. Participants were 320 male and female undergraduate students between 18 and 25 years of age (M = 20). Results showed heavier exposure to reality TV programs perceived to have strong, concurrent sexual and alcohol themes, and perceiving reality TV content as realistic was each associated with more harmful drinking patterns and more frequent sexual behavior while intoxicated or high. Methodological and health implications of the findings are discussed