Abstract
Research shows that family sexuality communication is protective for teens’ risky sexual behavior, but most studies on this topic focus exclusively on the parent–teen dyad. The few studies that assessed extended family sexuality communication use a single item to measure this communication and showed mixed results as to whether it is associated with sexual risk behaviors for teens. The current study included cross-sectional survey data from 952 teens in the 11th and 12th grades. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess associations between teens’ sexual risk behaviors and communication with extended family about protection methods, risks of sex and relational approaches to sex. Results showed that, for sexually active teens, talk about protection methods was associated with fewer sexual partners and talk about risks of sex was associated with more sexual partners, even after accounting for talk with parents about sex and controlling for teen gender, racial/ethnic background and mothers’ education. Results suggest that extended family talk with teens about sex might protect them from risky sexual behavior, over and above the effects of teen–parent communication. However, the direction of the effect depends on the content of the conversations. Talk about protection might support teens’ sexual health, while talk about risks of sex with teens who have already had sex, might not be effective. These findings suggest the need to explore whether and how extended family could be included in health prevention and intervention programs, which currently focus on parents.
Highlights
Risky sexual behaviors, such as early sex and lack of protection, leave teens vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancy [1]
In the models assessing the relationships among direct communication with extended family members and youth sexual outcomes, protection and risk communication were both found to be significant predictors of youths’ reported number of sexual partners
Close to half of teens talk with extended family about sex [5], yet little research has investigated whether and under what conditions this communication could protect teens from risky sexual behavior
Summary
Risky sexual behaviors, such as early sex and lack of protection, leave teens vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancy [1]. Research shows that family sexuality communication is protective for risky sexual behavior [2,3], but most studies on this topic focus exclusively on the parent–teen dyad [4]. This focus ignores the findings that over half of teens talk with extended family about sex or relationships [5]. Using a more comprehensive measure of the extended family’s communication, the current study extended the extant research by assessing the associations between communication and teens’ sexual risk behaviors, and whether
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
