Even though a great deal of research has shown that adolescents who watch more risky behaviours in popular movies, like drinking or smoking, are more likely to drink and smoke themselves, surprisingly little research has examined whether movies influence adolescents’ sexual behaviours until now.

Over six years, psychological scientists examined whether or not seeing sex on the big screen translates into sex in the real world for adolescents. Their findings revealed not only that it did but also explained some of the reasons why.