Unravelling the role of entertainment fiction as a positive socialization agent for adolescents’ sexuality and body image

Little to almost nothing is known about so-called “positive” effects of popular entertainment fiction on adolescent body image and sexuality. As a result, we do not know which positive effects can be expected and have no theoretical basis to explain their occurrence. Moreover, this major gap has led to a rather unbalanced attention toward negative media effects which hinders scientific development in many ways. As such, the current project will -for the first time- systematically document the occurrence of prosocial sexual and appearance-related messages in entertainment fiction by drawing on literature describing a Positive Body Image and Sexuality (PBI&S) and introducing a narrative approach to disentangle positive messages from negative messages. A theoretical model integrating PBI&S literature, media effects theory and morality research will be developed and tested in diary and longitudinal research to explain how entertainment fiction may relate to PI&S among adolescents.

Keywords:media effects, body image, sexuality, adolescence, quantitative research

Disciplines:Communication sciences, Journalism and professional writing, Media studies, Other media and communications