AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF SEXUALIZATION THROUGH MEDIA CONTENTS ON THE PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

This study examined the effects of early sexualization through media contents on the personality development of Nigerian youths, using students of the University of Benin as a case study. The research investigated how exposure to sexualized media influences key aspects of personality, including self esteem, body image, mode of dressing, and gender perception. The study adopted the survey research design, and data were collected through the administration of questionnaires across different faculties and campuses using a multi-stage sampling technique. A total of 398 respondents were selected from a population of 77,000 students. Findings revealed that students are frequently exposed to sexualized media contents through television, music videos, films, social media, and online platforms. The study discovered that such exposure significantly affects their self-concept, social behavior, and interpersonal relationships. Specifically, prolonged exposure contributes to self-objectification, low self-esteem, and unrealistic beauty standards, thereby shaping attitudes toward gender roles and sexuality. The study concluded that early exposure to sexualized media has a profound influence on the personality development of youths. It recommended that media regulatory bodies enforce stricter guidelines on sexual content, parents and educators promote media literacy, and students exercise discretion in media consumption. The findings contribute to the growing discourse on media influence and provide a framework for policy interventions aimed at fostering healthy youth development in Nigeria.