Mainstream films not only influence the choices and general behavior but can also have an impact on teenagers' attitudes towards sex and relationships, a new study to be published in the journal Psychological Science reveals.

The study was conducted by researchers at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire who observed over 1,200 kids aged between 12 and 14 years and found that those who were exposed to sexual content on screen were more likely to take risk in their relationships and every hour of being exposed to such content increased the chances that they would lose their virginity within six years.

"Adolescents who are exposed to more sexual content in movies start having sex at younger ages, have more sexual partners, and are less likely to use condoms with casual sexual partners. This study, and its confluence with other work, strongly suggests that parents need to restrict their children from seeing sexual content in movies at young ages", lead researcher Dr Ross O'Hara said.