A healthy dose of skepticism: The relationship between young adolescents’ sexual media exposure and sexual intentions, and the moderating role of media skepticism.

=14; 55% female), this study examined the relationship between young adolescents' sexual media exposure and intentions to engage in sexual activity in the next year, and the potential moderating role of media skepticism. As hypothesized, greater sexual media exposure was positively related to intentions to engage in sexual activity in the next year. This relationship was moderated by media skepticism such that the relationship between sexual media exposure and sexual intentions was significantly weaker for adolescents' who were more skeptical of media messages. Implications for future research and interventions aimed at bolstering adolescents' critical media attitudes, including media skepticism, are discussed.