The information revolution is said to have activated sexual behavior of Japanese youth. However, there has been very little academic research on the relationship between new media and sexual behavior. The National Survey of Sexual Behavior of Japanese Youth (NSSB 1974 - 2005) has concerned media influences on sexual behavior. Based on this survey, we will explore the historical, social, and interpersonal processes that the new media have come to affect sexual behavior. Methods: Our quantitative analysis falls into three phases. 1) The historical changes in communication media and sexual behavior are described. 2) A cross-sectional analysis shows that the usage of mobile phones constructs a social boundary between the active and passive groups in sexual behavior. 3) The interpersonal influences of mobile phones are divided into two stages, firstly to enhance opportunities to find partners, and next to accelerate the steps of intimacy. Results: From a historical point of view, neither mobile phones nor the Internet caused a sexual revolution in Japan. But now, most young people use mobile phones before starting sexual behavior, and the frequency of text-messaging is closely related to the experience of sexual intercourse. While 29% of senior high school students experience intercourse, the rate is 58% among heavy users (who send over 20 messages a day). In contrast, the experience of intercourse among heavy users of personal computers is limited (15%). These media influences persisted even after the social backgrounds of the subjects were statistically controlled. Conclusions: It is not the Internet but mobile phones that accelerate sexual behavior of Japanese youth. Text-messaging not only expands opportunities for finding partners, but also hastens the steps of intimacy. These findings suggest that portability and flexibility of messaging via mobile phones play an important role in building intimacy.
Conflict of Interest: None disclosed
Financial Support/Funding: The Japanese Association For Sex Education
Sydney Australia, April 2007
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