Media Influence as Predictors of Adolescent’s Sexual Risky Behaviour in Nigeria

The study established the influence of media on adolescents’ sexual risky behaviour. Two hundred (200) Adolescents of reproductive age were selected from five secondary schools in Ibadan Metropolis; Nigeria constituted the sample for the study. Their ages ranged from 12years to17years with a mean age of 14.5years and standard deviation of 3.5. The two instruments used were author-constructed questionnaires with 0.64 and 0.69 reliability coefficient respectively. Data were analyzed using multiple regression and correlation statistics. Results revealed from the study indicated that, a combination of the ten independent variables significantly predicted the dependent variable F= (1,270); R= .285, R2 = .781, Adj. R2= .017; P<.05). The results also indicated that, significant relationship existed between the Internet (B = 0.052, T = 0.689), Facebook (B = 0.098 T = 1.390), Videos (B = -0.127, T = -1.559), Cell phones (B = 0.163, T = 2.342), Television (B = 0.027, T = 1.444), Twitters (B = 0.004, T = 1.049), Magazines/Newspapers (B = 0.014, T = 1.208), Computers (B = -0.013, T = -0.184), Pornography (B = -0.003, T = -1.040), and Music (B = -0.026, T = -0.419) and adolescents’ sexual risky behaviours. The results further showed the significant position between dating, (r-value=0.023), oral sex (r-value=0.248), sexual intercourse, (r-value=0.324), sexual lyrics (r-value=0.282), cohabitation, (r-value=0.269), nude pictures, (r-value=0.223), condom use, (r=value -0.142), multiple sexual partners, (r-value=0.209), night parties (r-value=0.210), sensation feeling behavior (r-value= 0.211), abortion (r-value = 0.321), sexual scripts (r-value= 0.201) and Adolescent’s risky sexual behaviours. Based on the results of these findings, the study recommended that adolescents should be aware that the media portray more of sex inviting images that appeal to their emotion. They should spend less time with the media and Sex education should be introduced at all levels of our educational systems in Nigeria, as this will reduce the high risk the adolescents are prone to sexually and parents should be a media role model to their children.