A Statewide Survey of the Nature and Scope of Sexuality Communication in Indiana

Abstract

With schools' emphasis on abstinence-only-until-mar-riage sexuality education, parents' roles as sexuality educators are becoming increasingly important to ensure positive sexual health outcomes for young people. However, research suggests that most American adults have limited basic sexual health knowledge. This lack of knowledge negatively impacts parents' ability to impart accurate information to their children. This research investigated communication between Indiana parents and their children about sexuality. A representative sample of men (n = 158) and women (n = 340) was surveyed via telephone interviews regarding the frequency of their conversations on specific sexuality-related topics and the reasons that might prevent them from discussing sexuality. Rates of parental communication about certain topics related to sexuality varied greatly. This suggests that certain barriers exist that limit the amount and quality of sexuality education between parents and their children.