• Rebecca Densley is a media effects scholar whose research focuses on the ways in which media influence children, adolescents, and families. She has done work ranging from the social benefits of preschoolers’ educational TV programming to the influence of gender and parent-child conversations on teens’ sexting behaviors. Her work is driven by a desire to give parents tools to help their children successfully navigate today’s complex media environment.

    Dr. Densley teaches courses on Mass Media and Advertising in which she frequently incorporates active learning strategies to increase student engagement. She also illustrates class principles by pulling from her previous professional experience as an advertising campaign consultant, the communications director for a non-profit organization, and the co-owner of a small business.

    Ph.D., Texas Tech University

    M.A., Texas Tech University

    B.S., Brigham Young University

    Densley, R.L. and Rasmussen E.E. (2018). “Why don’t we get drunk and screw?”: A content analysis of women, sex and alcohol in country music. Journal of Popular Music Studies, 30(3), 115-128.

    Rasmussen, E. E., Coyne, S. M., Martins, N., & Densley, R. L. (2017). Parental mediation of youths’ exposure to televised relational aggression.  Journal of Children and Media, 12(2), 192-210.

    Rasmussen, E. E., & Densley, R.L. (2016). The role of parents in shaping the influence of media exposure on children’s well-being. In L. Reinecke and M. B. Oliver (Eds.), Handbook of media and well-being: International perspectives on theory and research on positive media effects. Routledge.

    Rasmussen, E. E., Shafer, A., Colwell, M. J.,White, S. R., Punyanunt-Carter, N., Densley, R., & Wright, H. (2016). Relation between active mediation, exposure to Daniel Tiger¹s Neighborhood and U.S. preschoolers¹ social and emotional development. Journal of Children and Media. 10(4), 443-461.

    Parental Mediation

    Media Literacy

    Adolescent Pornography Use & Sexting

    Advertising