MTV’s '16 & Pregnant' and 'Teen Mom' reportedly responsible for decline in U.S. teen pregnancy rates according to study

MTV's reality series hits Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant have apparently had a much bigger effect on the world besides just being oddly entertaining and giving us such iconic train wrecks like Farrah Abraham and Janelle Evans. According to a new study, these reality shows depicting what happens to real teens after becoming pregnant at such a young age has actually helped decrease the teen pregnancy rate in the United States.

This study, conducted by economists Phillip B. Levine and Melissa S. Kearny, states that the teen birth rate in the United States declined significantly between 2008 and 2011. This is apparently thanks to Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant.

Here is an excerpt from the report:

The finding that 16 and Pregnant had an impact suggests that MTV drew in teens who actually were at risk of teen childbearing and conveyed to them information that led them to change their behavior, preventing them from giving birth at such a young age. The fact that MTV knows how to make shows that teens like to watch, which speak to them in ways that resonate, presumably is critical to the show's impact. Apparently, this approach has the potential to yield large results with important social consequences. Typically, the public concern addresses potential negative influences of media exposure, but this study finds it may have positive influences as well. Presumably the effect on the attitudes or behaviors of teens and young adults could be positive or negative, depending on the specific media content and context. We find that media has the potential to be a powerful driver of social outcomes.

Check out the full study HERE!