If your child begs to watch an R-rated movie, you have new reasons to say no. Findings from a recent study by researchers suggest that limiting kids' exposure to R-rated movies lowers their risk of smoking or drinking alcohol.
Between 2002 and 2003, researchers surveyed 2,606 9- to 12-year-olds about how often their parents let them watch R-rated movies. If they responded that they were allowed to watch them sometimes, the kids noted whether they watched them alone or with one or both parents. The preteens also noted whether their parents checked the movie rating before they could watch a movie at a friend's house or rent a video. They also noted whether they'd tried smoking or drinking alcohol or if they would not rule out doing so in the future (those who responded yes were considered "at risk"). The kids also answered questions about whether their parents told them what time to come home, whether they had rules about how to spend time after school, and whether a parent checked that they did their homework. In phone interviews, the parents answered questions about their level of education, income, and smoking and drinking habits.
Fifty-five percent of the kids watched R-rated movies, with only one third always watching them with a parent and two thirds reporting they sometimes watched them without a parent. Compared with kids who were permitted to watch R-rated movies without a parent, those who never watched R-rated movies were at least 40% less likely to be at risk for smoking or drinking. Also, kids whose parents always watched R-rated movies with them had a lower risk of smoking, but not drinking.
What This Means to You
Previous research has indicated that exposure to media portrayals of smoking and drinking — often depicted in R-rated movies — may influence kids' use of these substances. The results of this study suggest that restricting your child's viewing to movies rated PG-13 and below may reduce the risk of smoking or drinking.
Try these strategies to limit kids' exposure at home and away:
- Always accompany kids to the video store.
- Find out what a movie is rated before you allow kids to watch it.
- Ask about the movies shown at friends' homes.
In this study, these movie-monitoring behaviors were associated with a lower risk of smoking and drinking.
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: December 2006
Source: Madeline A. Dalton, PhD; Anna M. Adachi-Mejia, PhD; Meghan R. Longacre, PhD; Linda T. Titus-Ernstoff, PhD; Jennifer J. Gibson, MS; Susan K. Martin, BS; James D. Sargent, MD; Michael L. Beach, MD, PhD; Pediatrics, November 2006.
