Examining the Influence of Pakistani Television Dramas Depicting Extramarital Affairs on Youth

This study has examined the influence of dramas depicting extramarital affairs on Youth, focusing on Pakistani Urdu dramas. The portrayal of extramarital affairs in these dramas has increased in recent years, leading to concerns about their impact on Youths' attitudes and beliefs. The main aim was to examine the level of exposure Youth have to these portrayals, explore the association between exposure and its influence on Youth and investigate the potential cultivated effect of Mean World Syndrome. A quantitative research approach was employed and data was collected through a survey, administered to a randomly selected sample of 347 students from the Foundation University Rawalpindi Campus. The questionnaire demonstrated reliable internal consistency of α= 0.71. The results demonstrated a positive but weak relationship between the amount of exposure to these dramas and the perceived influence they have on Youth. The correlation (r=.25) is weak indicating that greater exposure does not necessarily lead to a greater impact on Youth perceptions of marriage. Negative correlation (r=-.53) was also found between exposure to dramas and development of Mean World Syndrome. This suggests that the greater exposure of Youth does not necessarily lead to mistrust on relationships and may not be significant source of influence.