Study says teens familiar with pornography and alcohol

The Dr Sommer Study 2009 report found that 42 percent of 11- to 13-year-olds in Germany are familiar with pornography. Among those between the ages of 14 and 17, the figure is as high as 79 percent. The study is named after the famed Bravo column which combines no-holds-barred sex advice with explicit photos.

Marthe Kniep, head of the Dr Sommer Team, said the consumption of pornography among teenagers had been strongly debated in Germany recently. “But we wanted to know how things really are,” she said.

Kniep however pointed out that only a small number of teenagers regularly viewed pornography. “That’s why we don’t think you can speak of a ‘porno generation’,” she said.

Kniep said it was unclear what feelings the pornographic images sparked in teenagers at a time when they were “curious about things” but are unwilling to ask for advice. The study surveyed 1,228 teenagers between 11 and 17 on the topics of love, body consciousness and sexuality.

The study also found that 28 percent of teenagers have had unprotected sex at least once – twice as much as the last time the study was conducted in 2006.

“There are a lot of misconceptions and lack of knowledge when it comes to contraception,” Kniep said.

The authors of the study said they were also alarmed by the figures on alcohol consumption among teenagers.

The report found that 7 percent of 11- and 12-year-olds and every second 14-year-old was drunk at least once. 36 percent said they had been “completely pissed” at least once.