Teenage Sexual Attitudes, Norms, Desires and Intentions: the Impact of Preferred Musical Genres

TEENAGE SEXUAL ATTITUDES, NORMS, DESIRES AND INTENTIONS: THE IMPACT OF PREFERRED MUSICAL GENRES A thesis submitted for the degreeof Doctor of Philosphy by SenaAgbo-Quaye Schoolof Social Scienceand Law Brunel University September2006 ABSTRACT This thesis focuses on teenage sexual attitudes and norms as moderated by their preferred music genre. The research questions addressedhere are: What are the genre differences in lyrical representations of relationships and male and female characteristics? What are young peoples' perceptions of the impact of these genre differences on their lives? How does genre preference influence teenage safer sex attitudes, desires, norms, control, group identity and intentions? Three studies investigated these research questions. Firstly, the lyrics to 50 songs across five genres were rated on a number of dimensions. Relationships in hip hop are significantly different to relationships in pop; in the former they are presented as more casual, exploitative, sexual and impulsive. They are portrayed in the latter as more committed, nurturing, romantic and responsible. Secondly, six focus group discussions were conducted with 41 young people aged 14-19 years. It was found that influence from music is heavily denied.However, it becameapparent that preferredgenre and artists influence all aspectsof teenagelives and culture; specifically, music functions as an educationaltool into adult relationships.Music assistsin the transitionfrom childhood to adulthoodwith genrepreference used as a marker of maturity. Thirdly, an omnibus questionnaire utilising theory of planned behaviour and social identity/self categorisationtheory constructsexamined genre preferenceand safer sex attitudes, normsand intentions.It was found that hip hop listenersare significantly more likely to choose condom use as their preferred safer sex method than listeners of pop music. Perceivedbehavioural control did not add to the predictive power in this model. Overall conclusions suggest that visual and aural music should be incorporated into sexual risk interventions preventing because preferred music genres and artists can elucidate teenagesexual attitudes, norms and desires. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 12 1. ..................................................................................... I. I. Methodology 14 ........................................................................................................................... 1.2. Ethics 15 ...................................................................................................................................... 1.3. Literature Review Overview 15 ................................................................................................... 2. Li REviEw 18 STURE ........................................................................... 2.1. Introduction 18 ............................................................................................................................. 2.2. Sexual Trends 18 ......................................................................................................................... 2.2.1. Background 19 ........................................................................................................................ 2.2.2. Family & Friends 24 ............................................................................................................... 2.2.3. Socio-economicFactors 28 ..................................................................................................... 2.2.4. Socio-cognitive Factors 31 ...................................................................................................... 2.2.5. Music Norms 33 ...................................................................................................................... 2.3. Conclusion 36 .............................................................................................................................. 2.4. Tackling SexualHealth Problem 38 the ...................................................................................... 2.4.1. Introduction 39 ........................................................................................................................ 2.4.2. Safer Sex Promotion Programmes 40 ..................................................................................... 2.4.3. Intervention Limitations 44 ..................................................................................................... 2.5. Conclusion 47 .............................................................................................................................. 2.6. Music Functions Influences 49 and ............................................................................................. 2.6.1. Introduction 49 ........................................................................................................................ 2.6.2. Music Preference& Influence 50 ............................................................................................ 2.6.3. Music Content Effects 55 and ................................................................................................. 2.6.4. Music SexualActivity 60 and ................................................................................................. 2.7. Conclusion 62 .............................................................................................................................. 2.8. The Theory PlannedBehaviour 64 of .......................................................................................... 2.8.1. Introduction 64 ........................................................................................................................ 2.8.2. Intention 69 ............................................................................................................................. 2.8.3. PerceivedBehavioural Control 72 .......................................................................................... 2.8.4. Attitude 73 .............................................................................................................................. 2.8.5. Subjective Norm 76 ................................................................................................................ 2.8.6. Social Influence 81 .................................................................................................................. 2.9. Conclusion 88 .............................................................................................................................. 2.10. Conclusion: Literature 90 review ................................................................................................. 2.11. ResearchQuestions Hypotheses 94 and ....................................................................................... 2.11.1. Introduction 94 ........................................................................................................................ 2.11.2. Study 1 Hypotheses 101 .......................................................................................................... 2.11.3. Study 2 ResearchQuestions 101 ............................................................................................. 2.11.4. Study 3 Hypotheses 101 .......................................................................................................... 3. METHODOLOGY 103 .................................................................................. 3.1. Introduction 103 ................................................................................................................ ........... 3.2. Study One Genre differences in lyrical 104 - content ................................................................. 3.3. Study Two The function 106 - role and of music........................................................................ 3.4. Study Three Music 109 - preference,sexual attitudes and sexual norms.................................... 3.5. Ethical Issues 111 ........................................................................................................................ 3.6. Defining Young People 112 ......................................................................................................... 3.7. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................115 4. GENRE DIFFERENCES IN LYRICAL CONTENT 118 ...................................... 4.1. Introduction ...........................................................................................................................118 4.2. Hypotheses ............................................................................................................................133 4.3. Method ..................................................................................................................................133 3 4.3.1. Participants 133 ....................................................................................................................... 4.3.2. Procedure 134 ......................................................................................................................... 4.3.3. Measures 135 .......................................................................................................................... 4.3.4. Materials 137 .......................................................................................................................... 4.4. Inter 139 -rater reliability ...........................................................................................................

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