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Although research indicates significant associations between exposure to certain types of media and men's participation in high-risk behaviors, less is known about the potential mediating role of masculinity ideology, which is also linked to risk behaviors. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the relation between multiple forms of media, masculinity ideology, and participation in high-risk behaviors among a sample of 449 undergraduate men from a U.S. Midwestern university. Survey results indicated that overall television use, sports television, and movie viewing were significantly associated with stronger endorsement of masculinity ideology. Masculinity ideology, in turn, was associated with sexual risk-taking, alcohol use, drug use, and speeding while driving. Furthermore, masculinity ideology was found to mediate the relation between these media formats and risk outcomes. These findings highlight several ways in which various media formats and traditional masculine norms promote behaviors that put men at increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse problems, and physical injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Content analyses of popular media have consistently documented the narrow and stereotypical ways in which women and men are frequently depicted. Despite growing evidence that these media images impact viewers' attitudes towards women and gender relations, less is known about how specifically media impact men's beliefs about masculinity. Thus, the purpose of our paper was to explore the association between media use and beliefs about manhood among a sample of undergraduate men from a U.S. Midwestern university. In Study 1 ( N = 488), we examine the relation between young men's media consumption and their beliefs about the male role using the Adolescent Masculinity in Relationships Scale (AMIRS; Chu et al. ). As hypothesized, men's media use was associated with more traditional beliefs about the male role, with reality TV and movie viewing emerging as significant predictors. Study 2 ( N = 449) addresses the contribution of male-oriented media (e.g., sports programming, video games, men's magazines) to men's personal adherence to masculinity ideology as measured by the Conformity to Masculine Norm Inventory-46 (Parent and Moradi ). Here, sports TV viewing, reality TV viewing, and reading men's magazines were predictive of stronger adherence to masculinity ideology. These findings suggest that media may contribute not only to beliefs about women and gender relations, but also to young men's beliefs about manhood and personal enactment of masculinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]