Media Literacy Education News Post Archives

New Chapter in Handbook of Children and Screens Discusses How Gender and Sexuality Are Represented in Media for Young People

Elizabeth Porter2024-12-18T18:00:14+00:00

December 18, 2024, Durham, NC – iRT Research Scientist Dr. Tracy Scull co-authored a chapter in the recently released Handbook of Children and Screens entitled “Representations of Gender and Sexuality in Youth Media.” Dr. Scull co-authored the chapter with colleagues from research institutions from across the world, including Drs. Jennifer Stevens Aubrey, Megan K. Maas, Sophia Choukas-Bradley, Meenakshi Gigi Durham, Johanna M. F. van Oosten, and L. Monique Ward. About the Chapter Children start developing strong concepts of gender identity and gender roles early in life, and they often explore ideas related to sexuality and sexual roles during adolescence. During these developmental stages, young people usually look to many sources [...]

New Chapter in Handbook of Children and Screens Discusses How Gender and Sexuality Are Represented in Media for Young PeopleElizabeth Porter2024-12-18T18:00:14+00:00

The American Journal of Sexuality Education Publishes iRT’s Research on Sex Education Programs for College Students

Elizabeth Porter2024-11-25T14:59:53+00:00

November 25, 2024, Durham, NC – The American Journal of Sexuality Education recently published an article detailing findings from iRT’s research on comprehensive sex education programs for college students. The article, entitled “Acceptability and Fidelity of a Media Literacy Education-Based, Comprehensive Sexual Health Program for College Students: A Multi-Method Student-Centered Evaluation,” was authored by current and former iRT Researchers Dr. Reina Evans-Paulson, Kylia Ahuna, Dr. Tracy Scull, Dr. Christina Dodson, and Dr. Janis Kupersmidt. College students are at high risk for engaging in risky sexual behaviors, such as unprotected sex and poor communication with partners. Providing high-quality comprehensive sex education is [...]

The American Journal of Sexuality Education Publishes iRT’s Research on Sex Education Programs for College StudentsElizabeth Porter2024-11-25T14:59:53+00:00

iRT Researcher Offers Workshops to Empower Parents to Practice Media Literacy Strategies with Their Children

Elizabeth Porter2024-10-07T15:46:38+00:00

October 07, 2024, Durham, NC – Research has shown that tweens and teens make healthier decisions when their parents have high-quality conversations with them about sex, puberty, relationships, sexual violence, gender stereotypes, and substance use. However, parents sometimes avoid having conversations with their children about these topics because they find it overwhelming or uncomfortable. In addition, parents may not know how to begin these conversations or what they should be talking with their child about. Many parents feel concerned about how consistent media exposure in the digital age may be impacting their children, including how it may be impacting their thoughts [...]

iRT Researcher Offers Workshops to Empower Parents to Practice Media Literacy Strategies with Their ChildrenElizabeth Porter2024-10-07T15:46:38+00:00

iRT’s research on media literacy and adolescent sexual health is highlighted in a chapter in the forthcoming book, Teens, Sex, and Media Effects

Elizabeth Porter2024-09-27T19:57:51+00:00

September 27, 2024, Durham, NC – iRT’s researchers have a wealth of expertise in media literacy education and sexual health research. Teens, Sex, and Media Effects: Understanding Media’s Influence on Adolescent Sexuality, Sexual Health, and Advocacy, the soon-to-be-released book compiling original research related to adolescent sexual health and sexual media, will showcase some of iRT’s work. Drs. Christina Dodson and Tracy Scull authored a chapter for the book highlighting over a decade of iRT’s research on sexual health and media literacy education in a chapter entitled “Media Literacy Education for Comprehensive Sexual Health Promotion.” Chapters of Teens, Sex, and Media Effects [...]

iRT’s research on media literacy and adolescent sexual health is highlighted in a chapter in the forthcoming book, Teens, Sex, and Media EffectsElizabeth Porter2024-09-27T19:57:51+00:00

Recent Research on the Sexual Health Outcomes of Community College Students with Respect to Gender and Sexual Identity

Elizabeth Porter2024-08-07T22:06:18+00:00

August 07, 2024, Durham, NC – The Journal of American College Health recently published important findings from iRT’s sexual health research with community college students. The article, entitled “An examination of the sexual health behaviors and cognitions of young U.S. community college students with respect to the intersection of gender and sexual identity,” was authored by iRT Research Scientists Drs. Reina Evans-Paulson, Tracy Scull, Katie Stump, and Christina Dodson, as well as former iRT researcher Megan Armstrong. College students are at risk for negative sexual health outcomes, including high risk of STIs and unintended pregnancy. While a wealth of research explores [...]

Recent Research on the Sexual Health Outcomes of Community College Students with Respect to Gender and Sexual IdentityElizabeth Porter2024-08-07T22:06:18+00:00

Recent Research Findings on the Previous Sex Education Experiences of Community College Students

Elizabeth Porter2024-02-21T14:38:12+00:00

February 21, 2024, Durham, NC – Though community college students make up nearly half of all U.S. undergraduate students, they are often overlooked by sexual and relationship health research. The limited amount of research on this population may make it difficult for community colleges to make evidence-based decisions about the types of resources and support they should provide to their students to promote their sexual health. Without accessible resources to learn about and manage their health, community college students may be at risk for unhealthy sexual and relationship behaviors. To address these gaps in research, iRT has been conducting the Community [...]

Recent Research Findings on the Previous Sex Education Experiences of Community College StudentsElizabeth Porter2024-02-21T14:38:12+00:00

Offering Comprehensive Sex Education with Media Aware – High School

Elizabeth Porter2024-02-07T16:08:32+00:00

February 07, 2024, Durham, NC – To address the need for comprehensive sex education for adolescents in the United States, iRT developed Media Aware – High School, a self-paced, web-based, multimedia course designed to provide high school students with medically-accurate information on a variety of sexual health topics. Through a series of four multi-part lessons, students receive information on foundational sex education topics, including STI prevention and testing, sexual assault, consent, and birth control methods, as well as relevant, inclusive topics that are often left out of school-based sex education, including how substance use affects sexual decisions and behavior; gender role [...]

Offering Comprehensive Sex Education with Media Aware – High SchoolElizabeth Porter2024-02-07T16:08:32+00:00

Filling the Gaps in High School Sex Education in the United States

Elizabeth Porter2024-01-19T20:24:30+00:00

January 18, 2024, Durham, NC – Providing high-quality, comprehensive sex education to high school students is an important part of supporting healthy sexual development and decision-making in adolescents. During adolescence, youth often begin or continue forming beliefs about sex and relationships, making decisions about their own sexual health and romantic relationships, and developing a healthy sexuality. When equipped with high-quality sexual health resources and knowledge, high school students may be able to make healthier decisions and form healthy beliefs about their sexual health. Research has shown that comprehensive school-based sex education may reduce teenage pregnancy rates and increase safe sex behaviors [...]

Filling the Gaps in High School Sex Education in the United StatesElizabeth Porter2024-01-19T20:24:30+00:00

Addressing the Nationwide Addiction Crisis with Media Literacy Education, Mentoring, Mindfulness, and More

Elizabeth Porter2024-01-21T01:00:53+00:00

January 17, 2024, Durham, NC – The federal government and medical facilities across the United States have made substantial efforts to impede growth of the national opioid crisis, but trends in substance use have evolved in recent years making it increasingly difficult to thwart the addiction crisis. Updates on the decades-long opioid epidemic and prevention efforts have consistently made headlines as millions of Americans have faced opioid use disorders in the last three years. However, as rates of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl use continue to climb, it is vital to spread awareness of the pervasiveness of polysubstance use, in addition to [...]

Addressing the Nationwide Addiction Crisis with Media Literacy Education, Mentoring, Mindfulness, and MoreElizabeth Porter2024-01-21T01:00:53+00:00

iRT Researchers Present Findings from iRT’s Sexual Health and Media Literacy Education Research

Elizabeth Porter2023-12-19T19:55:34+00:00

December 19, 2023, Durham, NC – iRT Research Scientists Drs. Christina Dodson and Reina Evans-Paulson presented at The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality’s (SSSS) conference last month in New Orleans, Louisiana to discuss some of iRT’s research related to sexual health and media literacy education. Every year, SSSS hosts sexual health researchers and professionals interested in the sexual sciences to discuss recent research and issues related to sexuality and sexual health. Examining Resources to Address Sexual Health at Community Colleges At this year’s conference, Dr. Dodson gave an oral presentation entitled A Qualitative Study Examining Resources to Address Sexual [...]

iRT Researchers Present Findings from iRT’s Sexual Health and Media Literacy Education ResearchElizabeth Porter2023-12-19T19:55:34+00:00