The Dual Role of Media Internalization in Adolescent Sexual Behavior

Sexualizing media content is prevalent in various mediatypes. Sexualizing media messages and portrayals emphasize unattainable body and appearanceideals asthe primary componentsofsexualdesirability.Theinternalizationoftheseidealsis positively relatedto self-objectificationand sexual bodyconsciousness. In turn, self-objectification and sexual body consciousness affect adolescents’ sexual behavior, albeitin opposing directions. While objectifying self-perceptions are linked to higher levels of sexual behavior, body consciousness during physical intimacy is linked to lower levels of sexual behavior. Based on this knowledge,the presentthree-wave panel study of 824Belgian, predominant heterosexual adolescents (Mage=15.33; SD=1.45) proposes a dual-pathway model that investigates two different pathwaysthroughwhichtheinternalization ofmediaidealsmayimpact adolescents’ sexual behavior. An inhibitory pathway links media internalization to lower levels of sexual behavior through sexual body consciousness, and a supportive pathway links media internalization to higher levels of sexual behavior through self-objectification. Structural equation analyses supported the proposed dual-pathway, showing that the impact of media internalization on adolescents’ sexual behavior proceeds through an inhibitory pathway and a supportive pathway. Regarding the supportive pathway, media internalization (W1) positively predicted sexual behavior (W3),through valuing appearance over competence (W2). Regardingtheinhibitory pathway, mediainternalization (W1) positively predicted body surveillance, which, in turn, positively predicted sexual body consciousness (all W2). Sexual body consciousness (W2) is negatively related to sexual behavior (W3). From a sexual developmental perspective,these findings emphasize the importance of guiding adolescents in interpreting and processing sexualizing media messages.

"The internalization of media appearance ideals, body surveillance, and sexual body consciousness function as a chain that can activate the sexual inhibitory system. Despite their impossibility to match these body types, individuals often internalize these unrealistic ideals of attractive sexiness as a standard for themselves. Individuals come to gauge their sexual attractiveness againstthosemediaimages of physical perfection (i.e., body surveillance), which, in turn, will increase the likelihood that they will be left concerned about and dissatisfied with their (sexual) physical appearance (i.e., (sexual) body consciousness since they have been taught that attractive sexiness is an important prerequisite in attracting romantic partners. Although girls scored significantly higher on the internalization of media appearance ideals, valuing appearance over competence, and body surveillance, the present study showed that the observed relationships among our main variables did not differ across gender. We expect that media internalization may indirectly add to adolescents’ lower levels of sexual agency within sexual contexts, via valuing appearance over competence. Since adolescents who lack control over sexual situations experience more difficulties in refusing (unwanted) sexual proposals so constraints on sexual agency can give rise to sexual risk behaviors, including unwanted sex. A lack of self-confidence about one’s bodily appearance during sexual intimacy eventually negatively predicted adolescents’ sexual behavior. Individuals’ objectified body consciousness would be associated with their diminished (healthy)sexual functioning, in that sexual body consciousness was positively tied to lower levels of sexual experience." (Rousseau et al., 2017, pp. 1692-1694)