The relationship between rap music, media literacy and perception of romantic relationship commitment among African Americans
Abstract
The purpose of this current study is to examine the relationships between rap music media literacy and the perception of commitment to monogamous relationships among African American college students at a historically Black college in the southeastern United States. Students were given questionnaires assessing demographic characteristics, music listening habits, media literacy and perception toward relationships. It was hypothesized that greater media literacy would be related to a higher desire for committed romantic relationships and a more positive perception towards committed relationships. The results of ordinary least squares regression analyses revealed that acceptance of the attitudes within rap music and a personal identification with these messages is associated with a more adversarial attitude toward committed relationships. Furthermore the results also revealed that female gender and rejection of the messages in rap music are more likely to be associated with a higher desire for a committed relationship and understandably an adversarial attitude toward relationships is associated with less desire to be in a committed relationship. These findings indicate that increased media literacy may be an avenue for potential intervention.
Subject Area
African American Studies|Counseling Psychology
Recommended Citation
Sykes, Jennifer Elizabeth, "The relationship between rap music, media literacy and perception of romantic relationship commitment among African Americans" (2010). ETD Collection for Fayetteville State University. AAI1521449.
https://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/dissertations/AAI1521449