Teens Take in Smoking Scenes at the Movies
Researchers identified 601 popular movies and counted the occurrences of smoking in each film. Four thousand nine hundred ten junior high school students from northern New England received a random list of 50 films from the movies identified by the researchers. The students were asked to note how many of the 50 films they had viewed. The students also answered questions about special movie channels available at home, how many movies they watched each week, and how often they went to the theater. Teens also indicated whether their parents restricted access to R-rated films or television shows. Finally, the teens reported how much time they spent watching television and playing video games each week.
Teens saw an average of 30% of the movies on the survey list and were exposed to an average of 1,160 occurrences of smoking. A teen's exposure to smoking increased by 10% for each additional movie channel at home and for every 2 videos watched per week. Exposure to smoking on film also increased when a teen went to the theater more often. However, exposure to smoking in movies decreased by 50% when a teen's parent restricted R-rated movie viewing.
What This Means to You: Research studies suggest that regularly viewing smoking in the movies may influence a teen to smoke. Movie characters are often portrayed as tough, rebellious, and sexy when they light up - characteristics that are attractive to teens. Restricting your child's access to R-rated movies and television movie channels is one strategy for reducing exposure to smoking on screen. Watching movies with your child and discussing the consequences of smoking when a character smokes can also help send the message that smoking is harmful to your teen's health.
Source: James D. Sargent, MD; Madeline A. Dalton, PhD; Todd Heatherton, PhD; Mike Beach, MD, PhD; Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, July 2003
Reviewed by: Steve Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: July 2003
