Portland State University PDXScholar Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses 6-13-1996 Adolescents and Sex on the Soaps: A Content Analysis Jenelle Gay Winter Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds Part of the Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Winter, Jenelle Gay, "Adolescents and Sex on the Soaps: A Content Analysis" (1996). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 5211. https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.7087 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible:
[email protected]. THESIS APPROVAL The abstract and thesis of Jenelle Gay Winter for the Master of Science in Speech Communication were presented June 13, 1996, and accepted by the thesis committee and the department. COMMITTEE APPROVALS: L. David Ritchie, Chair Peter Ehrenhaus Dawn Graff-Haight .) Representative of the Office of Graduate Studies DEPARTMENT APPROVAL: Rhea Paul Department of Speech Communication ********************************************************************* ACCEPTED FOR PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY BY THE LIBRARY by on,/Pa.,4/~ /~6 ABSTRACT An abstract of the thesis of Jenelle Gay Winter for the Master of Science in Speech Communication presented June 13, 1996. Title: Adolescents and Sex on the Soaps: A Content Analysis. This study updates prior examinations of sexual content on daytime soap operas by investigating verbal references, implied sexual acts and mentions of sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, it extends earlier work by analyzing the commitment level and age of those involved in the sexual content.