ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, September 8, 1996 TAG: 9609090075
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A8 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW YORK
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
THE DIRTIEST WORD on the sexy daytime dramas apparently is "condom."
When, after weeks of smoldering glances, the male lead of a daytime soap opera finally ends up in bed with his brother's ex-wife, they are unlikely to discuss birth control.
Why does this matter, you ask?
Because soap sex and its consequences draw 40 million viewers likely to emulate those daytime dreamboats, said Katherine Heintz-Knowles, author of a study released Saturday on soap opera sex.
``We know that behavior performed by characters who are attractive, powerful and popular are much more likely to be imitated by viewers,'' said Heintz-Knowles, a University of Washington communications professor.
The survey found that, of 594 sexual behaviors shown during five weeks of soap operas, only 58 included the discussion or depiction of planning or consequences.
The study, released by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a private health foundation, was presented to network executives and soap-opera writers and producers meeting with reproductive-health experts at ``Soap Summit II.'' The first Soap Summit was held in 1994. Last year, the same group held a meeting on television talk shows.
The seminar is staged by Population Communications International, an organization that works with media around the world to encourage family planning and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
``The dilemma [soap opera producers] have is they have to provide entertainment,'' said Dr. Felicia Stewart, director of reproductive health programs for the Kaiser Foundation. ``The goal really here I think ... is to try to figure out some way we can be more [educational].''
The survey of 97 hours of programming from the 10 nationally televised soap operas from May 27 to June 28 recorded 6.1 sexual behaviors per hour of programming. That compared to 6.6 sexual behaviors per hour recorded in a 1994 survey.
A sexual behavior was defined as any kissing, caressing, flirting or sexual intercourse that was shown, implied or discussed by characters.
Heintz-Knowles said this year's survey found a higher proportion of sexual behaviors being shown - rather than just talked about - than two years ago.
Of the sexual behaviors recorded in the survey, 73 percent were shown visually, compared to 27 percent verbally. In the 1994 survey, 67 percent of sexual behaviors were verbal, compared to 33 percent visual.
``This is not to imply, though, that soaps are getting more explicit,'' Heintz-Knowles said. What is being shown is more kissing, embracing and caressing, she said.
Soap sex generally is not casual and almost always is depicted as having a positive effect on a relationship, Heintz-Knowles said.
Researchers said messages about AIDS and condom use were more prominent this year than in their 1994 study. Two soaps - ``All My Children'' and ``General Hospital'' - used condoms in major plots, while ``General Hospital'' featured an HIV-positive character and ``The Young and the Restless'' showed a woman deciding to get tested for HIV.
``This study indicates that it is possible for television to play a more constructive role when it comes to communicating messages about sexual responsibility,'' Stewart said. ``But there is still a long way to go. The overwhelming message of sex without consequence is out of synch with reality and not a helpful model, especially for young people.''
LENGTH: Medium: 68 linesby CNB