Abstract

IN PURSUIT OF PATERNAL SIGNIFICANCE: FATHERS’ INFLUENCE ON THEIR DAUGHTERS’ AND SONS’ SEXUAL BEHAVIORS AND BELIEFS By Rachel S. Everley, M.S. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2008 Major Director: Sarah Jane Brubaker, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Department of Sociology The United States has the highest teen pregnancy and adolescent STD rates of any industrialized nation. Numerous factors are involved in adolescent sexual decisionmaking and the social-ecological framework suggests that there are multiple levels of influence on adolescent development, including familial. Utilizing survey data from the Virginia Abstinence Education Initiative (VAEI), this project specifically explores paternal influences on adolescent sexual behavior and beliefs by examining paternal residence in the home, perceived paternal figure sexual beliefs, and father-child relationship factors. Results indicate that paternal figures influence their daughters’ and sons’ sexual behaviors as well as beliefs. Differences in paternal figure influence across

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