Kids Who Watch R-Rated Movies More Prone to Drink Later
What do R-rated movies and drinking have in common? More than you might think. According to a new study, children allowed to watch R-rated movies are more prone to drink at an earlier age than those who aren’t.
The study, which was conducted by researchers at Dartmouth Medical School in New Hampshire found that those whose parents were stricter with viewing habits early on reduced the onset of adolescent drinking. Researchers polled 3600 children in middle school regarding what types of movies they were allowed to watch. Two years later, the same children were again surveyed to see how that correlated with drinking habits.
Researchers reported that of those who were never allowed to watch R-rated movies, only three percent stated that they were consuming alcohol. This compares to 19 percent of kids who were occasionally allowed to watch R-rated movies and 25 percent of kids whose parents let them watch R-rated movies whenever they wanted.
The study goes to show that parental involvement and rules do have an impact in controlling behavior. Sometimes parents think that kids are going to do what they want and there is no stopping them. That clearly is not the case for all kids, especially when certain boundaries are set from the very beginning. The study illustrates the importance of monitoring children’s viewing habits from a young age.
Dr. James Sargent, author of the study says that the results of this analysis confirm that of prior studies on the subject. He adds that the effects of R-rated movies go beyond early alcohol abuse. Kids see actors and try to imitate what they do. Those who watch this type of adult content often have sex earlier, smoke sooner, and may even exhibit violent behavior.
And, Sargent claims that risky adolescent behaviors such as sex, smoking, and drinking go hand-in-hand. Once a teen has decided to try one, they are more likely to engage in another. This can be harmful as these youngsters are not mature enough to know the full impact of their decisions. Those in middle school are prone to binge drink in high school, which has been associated with poor academic performance and legal problems. Additionally, early use of alcohol has been linked to addiction in later years.
Sargent believes that the content in R-rated movies has the ability to change the personality of youngsters. He states that it can make them more prone to be risky and thrill-seeking. He estimates that about 90 percent of R-rated movies portray the use of alcohol, which could be a contributing factor as to why watching the movies increases the chances for early-onset drinking.
The study has implications for not just R-rated movies but also video games and television programs with questionable content. Parents who want to avoid these types of behaviors in their children have to be firm with what their children are allowed to watch. Sargent concludes by saying that monitoring what children watch is as essential as ensuring they finish their homework or eat their vegetables.
