Associated Press

From left, Matthew Perry as Chandler, Lisa Kudrow as Pheobe, Matt Le Blanc as Joey, David Schwimmer as Ross, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel, Courtney Cox Arquette as Monica. 2004 Warner Bros. Television Production Inc., 2004 Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

New research suggests that pregnancy rates are much higher among teens who watch a lot of TV with sexual dialogue and behavior compared with those who have tamer viewing tastes.

The study is the first to link those viewing habits with teen pregnancy, said lead author Anita Chandra, a Rand Corp. behavioral scientist. Teens who watched the raciest shows were twice as likely to become pregnant over the next three years as those who watched few such programs.

Previous research by some of the same scientists had found that watching lots of sexually charged content on TV can influence teens to have sex at earlier ages.

Shows that highlight only the positive aspects of sexual behavior without the risks can lead teens to have unprotected sex "before they're ready to make responsible and informed decisions," Chandra said.

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