Messages from Teens on the Big Screen: Smoking, Drinking, and Drug Use in Teen-Centered Films

Abstract

Smoking, drinking, and drug use endure as popular yet dangerous behaviors among American teenagers. Films have been cited as potential influences on teens' attitudes toward and initiation of substance use. Social cognitive theory suggests that teen viewers may be especially likely to learn from teen models who they perceive as similar, desirable, and attractive. Yet, to date, no studies systematically have analyzed teen characters in films to assess the frequency, nature, and experienced consequences of substance use depictions. Assessments of content are necessary precursors to effects studies because they can identify patterns of representations that warrant further examination. Accordingly, a content analysis of top grossing films from 1999, 2000, and 2001 was conducted. Overall, two-fifths of teen characters drank alcohol, one-sixth smoked cigarettes, and one-seventh used illicit drugs (N=146). Almost no differences existed between substance users and nonusers with regard to physical attractiveness, socioeconomic status (SES), virtuosity, or gender. Drinkers and drug users were unlikely to suffer any consequences--let alone negative consequences--in either the short or long term. Characters rarely were shown refusing offers to drink or do drugs, or regretting their substance usage. Girls were more likely than boys to be shown engaging in multiple substance use activities (e.g., smoking and drinking). Overall, recent teen-centered films may teach teen viewers that substance use is relatively common, mostly risk-free, and appropriate for anyone.

Alcohol, Advertising, Media, and Consumption among Children, Teenagers, and Young Adults

“…Few differences were found between drinkers and non-drinkers in terms of physical attractiveness, socio-economic status, gender or virtuousness, and drinkers were rarely shown refusing offers to drink, regretting drinking, or indeed suffering any consequences -negative or otherwise -from alcohol consumption. Stern (2005) concludes that the overall message conveyed in films targeted towards a predominantly teen audience is that alcohol consumption in this age group is common, mostly risk-free, and appropriate for anyone.…”

“…Since the late 1970s much research has thus focused on studying the portrayal of alcohol in popular television entertainment programming, notably television drama serials (soaps) and series, while a significant but less prolific body of research has also emerged into the portrayal of alcohol and drinking in other genres and media, such as film (Cook & Lewington, 1979;Denzin, 1991;Roberts, Henriksen, & Christenson, 1999;Stern, 2005), radio (Pitt, Forrest, Hughes, & Bellis, 2003;Daykin, Irwin, Kimberlee, Orme, Plant, McCarron, et al, 2009), popular music lyrics (Cruz, 1988;Herd, 2005), popular fiction (Cellucci & Larsen, 1995;Greenman, 2000) and music videos (DuRant, Rome, Rich, Allred, Emans, & Woods, 1997;Robinson, Chen, & Killen, 1998;Van den Bulck & Beullens, 2005;Beullens & Van den Bulck, 2008). Given the rapid growth and popularity of the internet, mobile phones and related new media technologies in the last 10-15 years, it is perhaps surprising that only a small number of studies (e.g.…”

“…In a recent content analysis of top grossing 'teen-centred' films from 1999, 2000, Stern (2005 found that two-fifths of teen-characters were depicted as drinking alcohol. Few differences were found between drinkers and non-drinkers in terms of physical attractiveness, socio-economic status, gender or virtuousness, and drinkers were rarely shown refusing offers to drink, regretting drinking, or indeed suffering any consequences -negative or otherwise -from alcohol consumption.…”

Henriksen and Flora (1999) Revisited—A Literature Review on Third-Person Effects and Children/Adolescents

“…But not only respondent's perceptions and intended actions are studied. There are studies look closer at drug abuse and other related substance abuse like alcohol in movies and films from a health perceptive (Stern, 2005) and what primary care practitioners need to know about the influence of the media on adolescents Strasburger (2006). Risky content as tobacco is primarily studied in relation to anti-smoking messages.…”

The role movies play in alcohol consumption by youths

“…Indeed, in their analysis of the most popular movie rentals from 1996 to 1997, Roberts et al (1999) found that 22% of characters who appeared to be under the age of 18 were shown drinking alcohol. More recently, Stern (2005) found that two-fifths of the teenage characters in the most successful teen-centred films from 1999-2001 were shown drinking. Moreover, of all characters shown drinking alcohol, more than half were depicted as drunk, and almost a tenth were shown driving while drunk.…”