'Readers of men's magazine engage in unwanted sexual activity'

Do you read magazines focused on issues related to men? Do check if you have developed less respect towards other people's sexual boundaries.

According to researchers at Washington State University (WSU), young adults who read men's magazines are more likely to engage in unwanted sexual activity.

In contrast, results suggest that women's magazines have empowered women to refuse unwanted sexual activity.

"We learn a lot about how to act in a relationship by what we see and read in the media. Bad information can lead to bad decisions," said Stacey J.T. Hust, an associate professor in WSU's Edward R. Murrow College of Communication.

The study suggests reading men's magazines is associated with lower intentions to seek sexual consent and lower intentions to adhere to decisions about sexual consent.

According to Hust, magazine articles that focus on improving the reader's sex life often convey messages that create a false impression about sexual consent negotiations.

The findings show the potential for both men's and women's magazines to be used as tools for change.

Magazines may be a successful medium for educating readers about sexual consent negotiation and encouraging positive behaviours.

"These results may indicate that the publishing industry's efforts to include content that empowers young women to take control of their sexual health are having a positive impact," added Emily Garrigues Marett from college of business at Mississippi State University.

The research appeared in the Journal of Sex Research.