Headlines:
| US study links music to sex habits |
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| Tuesday, 24 February 2009 | |
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A United
States study is suggesting that listening to
music with degrading sexual lyrics could prompt teenagers to start having sex
at an earlier age. Researchers from Pittsburgh University quizzed 711 teenagers about their sex lives and music listening habits. But the research has evoked some amount of controversy as United Kingdom (UK) experts remain skeptical about the extent of the role played by music. The study comes in the midst of heated debate in Jamaica following a sweeping ban by the Broadcasting Commission on sexually explicit and violent lyrics in the media. In the study reported by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine the research team classed degrading sexual lyrics as songs which described sex as a physical rather than a loving act. It said sex was also linked to power. While researchers have refused to name which songs would fall into the degrading category it cited some very explicit lyrics as examples of those being used. The research split the 13 to 18 teens into three groups - those who listened to music regularly, sometimes and not often. They found that 45% of regular listeners have had sex, compared to 21% of infrequent listeners. But the researchers acknowledged that it was too simplistic to link music directly to behaviour. Lead Researcher Dr. Brian Primack said parents banning music was unlikely to help with the problem but he urged parents to talk to their children about sex and putting explicit lyrics in context. But UK experts have poured cold water on the extent of the role played by such music. According to a spokesman for the Brock, a sexual health charity for young people, while acknowledging that cultural environment plays a part, it does not indicate a causal link. The group, formerly the Family Planning Association, also underscored the importance of a good sex education programme to address the issues. Other social factors influence sexual behavior - Dr. Hope-Marquis The results of the US study have garnered mixed reactions at home. Local Media watchdog group, Women's Media Watch agrees with the study. Dawnette Hinds-Furzer, Programmes Coordinator at Women's Media Watch, says sexually explicit lyrics turn fantasy into reality. "It could prompt them because one, it moves the individual from just fantasizing about a particularly lyrical content to exploration ... it could prompt teens into having sex because it's not just he lyrics but the lyrics coupled with the visual," she said. However, Dance Hall Researcher Dr. Donna Hope-Marquis says the study does not give a clear indication that teens engaging in early sexual activities is a result of them listening to sexually laced lyrics. According to Dr. Hope-Marquis, there are other social factors that should be considered. "The study did not prove any direct relationship between the young people's consumption of any type of music in a real sense and the music that they listen, so in scientific discussions, the term ‘could prompt' is used in a sense to suggest that maybe along the list of other variables and other institutions that affect people lives and decisions, music consumption is somewhere way down the line, if at all," said Dr. Hope-Marquis. What about violence against children - Dr. Salter And Clinical Psychologist Dr. Veronica Salter says the main issue of violence against children is being sidelined. "At the moment, we're concentrating so much effort on teenage sexuality and not spending any time looking at the major issue which is destroying our country which is violence and the pervasive violence directed specifically at our children," she said. Police and lewd music  In the meantime, National Security Minister Colonel
Trevor MacMillan is responding to concerns about lewd music played on public
passenger vehicles.He says even with limited resources steps will be taken to police public passenger vehicles. "The police force is 33% below establishment and we're in the process of trying to correct that but it's going to take a little time ... we do have a problem with manpower but it's not something that can be corrected overnight," said Colonel MacMillan who was addressing this issue at a PALS (Peace And Love in Schools) press conference on Tuesday. PALS will be hosting several events between now and April to promote peace in schools. One of the biggest events will be Peace Day on March 3. |