Sex, Substance Use, and Salacious TV
This session examines the economics of risky health behaviors for teenagers and young adults, focusing on the influence of public policies and economic conditions. The first paper, “Do Recessions Rein in Your Teen?” uses mortality data from the CDC and the YRBS to explore the impact of teen-specific labor market downturns on both risky (sexual activity, alcohol consumption, cigarette consumption and marijuana use) and healthy behaviors (exercise and healthy diet). Preliminary findings suggest that recessions reduce sexual activity and increase physical activity among teens. In the second paper, “The Role of New Media on Teen Sexual Behaviors and Fertility Outcomes,” the author investigates the potential role of new media as a shock to teens’ information sets and thus a possible influence on their sexual behaviors and fertility, focusing on the 2009 premiere of the MTV show ‘16 and Pregnant,’ a program that both chronicles teen pregnancy and provides educational links on sexual health and contraception. Results suggest that recent sexual activity (contraception use) decreased (increased) in the post-June 2009 period among young teens relative to older youth. For young teens, the strongest effects are found in states without sex education mandates. Finally, in “The Effect of Changes in Emergency Contraception Availability on Pregnancy Intendedness,” the authors use data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System to estimate the effects of changes in access to emergency contraception on the likelihood of unintended pregnancy. The authors use a difference-in-difference methodology for Medicaid women aged 18 and older.