Adolescent Sexual Communication Research Articles

Influence of adolescent sexual communication on respect for sexual and gender diversity and its impact on the meaning of life

AbstractThis article, which addresses the relationships between the meaning in life, sexual communication in adolescence and respect for sexual and gender diversity, is based on theories that suggest connections between the underlying constructs. The methodology employed uses microdata from the National Survey on Sexual and Gender Diversity ENDISEG 2021, conducted by INEGI in Mexico, which are analyzed through structural equation modeling. When the structural model was validated using the bootstrapping technique, the results showed that the estimate of the relationship between sense of life and sexual communication in adolescence was 0.642, indicating that this relationship is not statistically significant. Similarly, the relationship between respect for sexual and gender diversity and sexual communication in adolescence showed a value of 0.099, reflecting that this relationship is not statistically significant. In contrast, the relationship between sense of life and respect for sexual and gender diversity obtained a value of 0.000, showing the existence of an effect, that is, that the relationship is statistically significant. In conclusion, the tensions inherent in adolescence, as well as cultural and social factors, introduce important debates that need to be considered when addressing these phenomena. This complexity highlights the need for a holistic approach that distinguishes the diversity of experiences and contexts that influence adolescent development and impact on adulthood.

The Interaction of Attitude, Intention, and Behavior During Sexual Communication

Parents need to have a positive attitude in establishing sexual communication with adolescent. Sexual communication in this study is a principal means of transmitting sexual values, beliefs, expectations, and knowledge from parents to adolescent. A representative and eligible sample was randomly obtained with a total of 315 respondents. The respondents of this study were parents (41–50 years old) who had teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17 years, and had to live together for at least 6 months before the survey was conducted. Three instruments were used; scale of attitudes toward sexual communication, intention to engage sexual communication, and sexual communication behavior of parents–adolescents. Based on the results of mediation tests, it shows that parental attitudes influence parent–adolescent sexual communication behavior through the intention to engage in sexual communication (P = 0.013). A positive attitude toward sexual communication is recommended to encourage parents to conduct sexual communication with adolescents to prevent adolescents from engaging in risky sexual behavior.
 Keywords: attitude, intention, risky sexual behavior, sexual communication

A longitudinal assessment of adolescents' sexual communication with parents, best friends, and dating partners.

Sexual health communication in adolescence is important for sexual well-being. With limited empirical work utilizing longitudinal methodologies, this study aimed to investigate how the frequency of sexual communication with parents, peers, and dating partners changes across adolescence and varies based on sex, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Participants included 886 U.S. adolescents (54.4% females; 45.9% White, 22.6% Hispanic/Latinx, 21.6% Black/African American) surveyed yearly from middle school through 12th grade. Growth curve models were used to estimate trajectories of the frequency in communication. Results showed curvilinear trajectories for adolescents' sexual communication with their parents, best friends, and dating partners over time. Although all three trajectories showed curvilinear patterns, sexual communication with parents and best friends increased earlier in adolescence and leveled off, while sexual communication with dating partners was lower in early adolescence and showed a steep increase across adolescence. Communication trajectories significantly diverged depending on adolescents' sex and race/ethnicity but not their sexual orientation. This study provides the first evidence of developmental changes over time in adolescent sexual communication with parents, best friends, and dating partners. Developmental implications for adolescents' sexual decision making are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Narratives of most significant change to explore experiences of caregivers in a caregiver-young adolescent sexual and reproductive health communication intervention in rural south-western Uganda.

This paper presents findings from a qualitative effectiveness evaluation of an intervention aimed at improving caregiver-young adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) communication including training modules for caregivers on parent-child SRH communication. Data was collected (October 2021-November 2021) using a narrative interviewing technique with thirty caregivers (8 males and 22 females), who received the parent-child communication intervention in Mbarara district, south-western Uganda. We explored caregivers' experiences with the intervention based on four domains of change: caregiver-young adolescent communication on SRH issues, knowledge and attitudes towards adolescent SRH, parenting skills, and personal life and family. Thematic analysis was used to code and analyse the data, with attention to gender differences. Findings highlight positive parenting as a key attribute of SRH communication, along with a transformation of knowledge and attitudes towards the SRH of young adolescents leading to an overall improvement in SRH communication. However, communication is still limited to comfortable topics. Our findings indicate improved caregiver-adolescent SRH communication practices following a community intervention. Programming for adolescent health on broader sexuality topics, comfortability and attitude change among caregivers could promote behaviour change on a long term. Future studies may focus on the long term impacts of interventions of this nature and test interventions aimed at addressing comfortability with discussingSRH issues.

INFLUENCE OF FAMILY MONITORING AND SEXUAL COMMUNICATION IN ADOLESCENT CYBERSEX BEHAVIOR


 
 
 
 Cybersex is the activity of accessing pornography on the internet, engaging in real-time, like conversations about online sexuality with others. The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of family monitoring and sexual communication adolescent cybersex behavior in Sidoarjo. The study used cross-sectional analytics. Probability sampling technique with simple random sampling. Samples were 121 adolescent students of SMK Antartika 2 Sidoarjo. The research instrument used sexual communication questionnaires, family monitoring, and ISST questionnaires to assess cybersex behavior. Statistic test using rho sperman test. Results showed adolescent sexual communication with parents was 56.2% in the low, 29.8% moderate and 14% high categories. Family monitoring related to sexual behavior was 39.7% in the low category, 33.1% in the medium category, and 27.2% in the high category. Teen cybersex behavior was 61.9% riskless, 17.4% were low-risk, and 20.7% had high-risk behavior. The results of the spearman rho test between sexual communication and cybersex behavior showed p value = 0.000 which means that there is a relationship between sexual communication and cybersex behavior. In the family monitoring variable with cybersex behavior, it is obtained p value = 0.000, meaning that there is a relationship between family monitoring and adolescent cybersex behavior. It is hoped that families will pay more attention to adolescents in monitoring their sexual behavior. In addition, it also implements open communication with adolescents regarding their sexual behavior, so that adolescents avoid cybersex behavior.
 
 
 
 

A prospective cross-sectional study on parent – Female adolescent communication towards sexual and reproductive health issues in south west ethiopia: Parent perspective

BackgroundEven though female adolescents can get information regarding sexual and reproductive issues from different sources, parents are the preferred source of information for most adolescents. ObjectiveThe study was aimed at assessing the parent-female adolescent communication regarding sexual and reproductive health issues in southwest Ethiopia. Method and materialsCommunity-based retrospective cross-sectional study design was employed among 388 parents of a female adolescent from May 5 to 26, 2021. The data were entered into Epi data version 4.2 and analyzed by the Statistical software package for social science version 23. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were done to identify factors associated with poor parent-female adolescent communication regarding sexual and reproductive health issues. ResultsAccording to this study, 223 (61.9%) parents had poor communication on sexual and reproductive health with their female adolescents. Having no communication difficulties regarding sexual and reproductive health issues[AOR = 0.287;95 %CI:0.167–0.494], poor knowledge of SRH issues[AOR = 2.082;95 %CI:1.222–3.547], in favorable attitude towards parents- female adolescent sexual and reproductive health communication[AOR = 1.847;95 %CI:1.065–3.204], parents didn’t have previous experience of sexual and reproductive health problem[AOR = 3.062;95 %CI:1.779–5.204], parents-whose female adolescent not asked about SRH issues[AOR = 0.434.;95 %CI:0.265–0.743] were the identified statically associated factors with poor parent-female adolescent communication regarding sexual and reproductive health issues. ConclusionsDespite the fact that poor parent–female adolescent communication has many impacts on sexual and reproductive health issues in female adolescents this study showed the status of poor parents-female adolescent communication regarding sexual and reproductive health issues was high. The knowledge, attitude, and communication challenges of parents regarding sexual and reproductive health concerns were found to be the identified factors associated with poor parents-female adolescent sexual and reproductive health communication practices. Thus, creating a positive atmosphere, and effective communication between parents and adolescents through empowering both parents and adolescents can improve the overall sexual and reproductive health issues of the adolescent.

Parents’ attitude towards sexual and reproductive health communication: The case of Wa West district of the Upper West Region, Ghana

BackgroundParents’ communication with their adolescents on sexual and reproductive health essentially decreases adolescent perilous sexual conduct. Available evidence supports a strong relationship between parents’ attitude and their communication with adolescents on sexual and reproductive issues. AimsThis study assessed the attitude of parents towards sexual and reproductive health communication with their adolescents in the Wa West District. MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 420 respondents. A multistage sampling technique was used to select study respondents. Data were collected employing trained research assistants using a structured questionnaire and analysed with IBM SPSS version 25. ResultsThe majority (96.2%) of the respondents had a positive attitude towards adolescent sexual and reproductive health communication There was a significant relationship between the sex of respondents and attitude toward sexual and reproductive health (SRH) communication with adolescents (P < 0.03, C 1.226–54.841). Conclusion and recommendationParents especially females had a positive attitude towards SRH communication with their adolescents. Healthcare stakeholders need to empower female parents with SRH information to be able to fruitfully communicate with their adolescents.

Peer education as a method in sexual, reproductive health promotion and risk communication for adolescent

Adolescence is a period of accelerated physical, psychological, and intellectual growth and development. It includes the development in sexual maturity of adolescents. In order to promote safe and healthy sexual and reproductive health, adolescents should be equipped with adequate knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy regarding the matter. The role of peer influence is highest during this stgae; thus, health promotion and risk communication through peer education has shown to be effective in many settings on adolescents. The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the peer education method as a form of health promotion in adolescent sexual and reproductive health and risk communication at SMKN “X” Pekanbaru. It was a quasi-experimental study involving 52 students. The participants were randomized into two groups, 26 in the experimental group and 26 in the control group. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed by t-test. The results showed there were significant differences in the mean changes in knowledge (p=0.000), attitudes (p=0.000), and self-efficacy (p=0.000) about sexual behavior in the experimental group receiving peer education compared to the control group. However, there was no significant difference in the mean changes in the role of peer influence between the two groups (p = 0.725). Therefore, peer education as a method in sexual and reproductive health promotion and risk communication positively changed adolescents’ knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy about sexual behavior. Hence, it is suggested for schools to provide health promotion program regarding adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health in collaboration with the Pekanbaru City Health Office and supplement it with a peer education method.

Correction to: Sexual Communication in the Digital Age: Adolescent Sexual Communication with Parents and Friends About Sexting, Pornography, and Starting Relationships Online

Correction to: Sexual Communication in the Digital Age: Adolescent Sexual Communication with Parents and Friends About Sexting, Pornography, and Starting Relationships Online

Associations between Parent-Child Communication on Sexual Health and Drug Use and Use of Drugs during Sex among Urban Black Youth.

Black youth and their families living in urban settings may experience unique stressors that contribute to underlying issues due to the environmental context. Such factors may exacerbate and promote drug use and engagement in risky sexual behaviors, unknowingly. Little is known about how family factors, peer pressure, condom use, and other related factors are associated with substance use and engaging in sexual behaviors while on drugs among urban African American youth aged 12–22 (N = 638). We used regression models to examine associations between parental bonding, parent–adolescent sexual health communication, condom use, peer pressure on substance use, and having sex while on drugs. Multivariate results indicated that parental bonding was statistically significant and associated with drug use (OR: 1.36, 95%CI: 1.36). Our study highlights that parental bonding plays a critical role in youth using drugs while living in urban environments.

Sexual Communication in the Digital Age: Adolescent Sexual Communication with Parents and Friends About Sexting, Pornography, and Starting Relationships Online

Online sexual behaviors like sexting, viewing pornography online, and using the internet to start relationships are increasingly common among adolescents, yet research has struggled to keep pace. This study fills a gap in the sexual communication literature by examining the extent to which a sample of high school adolescents are discussing digital sexual topics with their parents and best friends compared to more traditional sexual topics (pregnancy, STDs, condoms, and abstinence). Participants were 226 U.S. high school students (M age = 16.25; 58% girls; 46% White, 25% Latino, 24% Black) who reported their digital sexual behavior and sexual communication in the past year. Rates of sexting, viewing pornography, and starting relationships online were high (89% had engaged in at least one of these behaviors; 35% engaged in all three behaviors); yet communication about these topics was generally low: only 7% of youth had discussed all three digital topics with their parents and 19% had discussed all three with their best friends. This is in contrast to nearly 50% of youth who discussed traditional topics with their parents and best friends. Patterns of communication and digital sexual behavior were similar by gender, with the exception of pornography: boys were more likely to view pornography and discuss it with friends than girls. Implications for adolescent development in the digital age are discussed.

Parent-Adolescent Sexual Communication in India: Responses of Middle Class Parents

Parents are an important source of sexual health information for adolescents, and quality parent–adolescent sexual communication has been linked to positive sexual health outcomes. We sought to enhance the limited information about parent–adolescent sexual communication in India. The participants were 78 mothers and 91 fathers of adolescents ages 12–19 years. Both mothers and fathers reported limited past sexual communication, on average having talked to their child in general terms only and only a few times, although communication was somewhat better when the sex of the parent and adolescent were congruent. Only half of the parents had strong intentions to engage in these conversations during the following year. Parents’ reports and multiple regression analyses identified parents’ attitudes, knowledge, comfort, and history of sexual communication with their own parents as key factors in limiting parent–adolescent sexual communication engagement and intentions. A number of strategies to enhance parent-adolescent sexual communication are discussed.

Latino STYLE: Preliminary Findings From an HIV Prevention RCT Among Latino Youth.

Latino STYLE is a family-centered, HIV-focused intervention (HIV) emphasizing cultural factors and parent-adolescent communication. We hypothesized that, compared with a general health promotion (HP) intervention, the HIV arm would improve caregiver and adolescent HIV knowledge, attitudes, parental monitoring, sexual communication, and family relationships after a 3-month postintervention period. This article reports on the short-term findings of the longer trial. A single-site, two-arm, parallel, family-based, randomized, controlled trial was conducted; eligible participants were Latino adolescents aged 14-17 and their primary caregiver. The study was conducted at the University of South Florida with 227 adolescent-caregiver dyads allocated to the HIV (n = 117) or HP (n = 110) intervention after completing a baseline assessment. Interim measures at 3-month follow-up included demographics, HIV knowledge, self-efficacy, parental monitoring, sexual communication, family relationships, and adolescent sexual behavior. Adolescents in the HIV group reported small effects in parental permissiveness and the HP group reported small effects for family support. Caregivers in both groups reported decreases in all outcomes. Incidence of past 90-day sexual intercourse decreased in both treatment arms. Among those who were sexually active over the past 90 days, the number of sex acts decreased from baseline, particularly in the HIV group. The percentage of condom-protected sex acts increased in the HIV group and decreased in the HP group, but did not reach statistical significance. The HIV Latino STYLE intervention was not efficacious in improving hypothesized outcomes over a 3-month period. However, exploratory analyses revealed moderate effects for decreases in adolescent sexual risk behavior, particularly in the HIV group.

A Warm Nest or 'The Talk'? Exploring and Explaining Relations Between General and Sexuality-Specific Parenting and Adolescent Sexual Emotions.

The aim of the study was to explore and explain two hypothesized indirect longitudinal pathways and investigate gender differences in linking parenting factors to adolescents' sexual emotions. The general pathway expected higher parent-adolescent relationship quality to be related to more positive and less negative sexual emotions through higher adolescent global self-esteem. The sexuality-specific pathway expected more frequent parent-adolescent sexual communication to be related to more positive and less negative sexual emotions through higher adolescent sexual autonomy. Online questionnaire data were used from three waves of Project STARS, a longitudinal study on adolescent sexual development. The analysis sample included 248 sexually experienced adolescents (M= 14.74 years at baseline). Adolescents reported on the quality of their parent-adolescent relationship, how often they discussed sexual topics with their parents, their global self-esteem, sexual autonomy, and experience of positive (happy, proud, and loved) and negative (dirty, ashamed, and guilty) emotions after having sex. Overall, adolescents experienced more positive than negative emotions after sex. Mplus path model results indicated that, first, higher parent-adolescent relationship quality was related to higher adolescent global self-esteem, but global self-esteem was not related to sexual emotions. Second, more frequent parent-adolescent sexual communication was related to more adolescent sexual autonomy, and more sexual autonomy was related to more positive and less negative sexual emotions. However, no significant indirect effects, nor gender differences were found. Adolescents' sexual autonomy appears to play a particularly important role in how they experience having sex. Concrete suggestions for how the development of adolescents' sexual autonomy may be supported are discussed.

The longitudinal impact of a family-based communication intervention on observational and self-reports of sexual communication.

Parents can play a vital role in shaping teenagers' sexual attitudes, behavior, and contraceptive use through communication, however, less is known about how to modify parent-adolescent communication among youth with mental health problems. The impact of a family-based sexual risk prevention intervention on both observational and self-report of parent adolescent sexual communication was examined at 12-months among adolescents with mental health problems. Of the 721 parent- adolescent dyads recruited for the study, 167 videotapes of sexual discussions between parents and adolescent were coded for the family-based intervention and 191 videotapes for the active comparison. Longitudinal analyses examined differences between conditions (family-based vs. comparison) in self-reported and observed parent-adolescent sexual discussions and also examined the impact of gender on intervention response. More parent I-statements, healthier parent Body-Language, and fewer adolescent Negative Vocalizations were detected for family-based intervention participants 12 months after participating in the brief intervention (11 hours of total intervention time) relative to those in the comparison condition. Parents in the family-based intervention also self-reported better sexual communication at 12-months. The current study provides supporting evidence that a relatively brief family-based intervention was successful at addressing parent-adolescent sexual communication among a mental health sample.

Predicting Mother–Adolescent Sexual Communication Using the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction

Guided by the integrative model of behavioral prediction, we examined factors associated with more extensive mother–adolescent sexual communication. Participants were 303 mothers of young adolescen...

Parent–Adolescent Sexual Communication and Adolescents’ Sexual Behaviors: A Conceptual Model and Systematic Review

Parent–adolescent sexual communication can help reduce sexual risk behaviors among adolescents. However, research and theory are less clear regarding the specific pathways (i.e., mechanisms of change) by which this communication works to reduce sexual risk behavior. The current review addresses this gap by proposing a conceptual model describing the processes by which parent–adolescent sexual communication influences adolescents’ sexual intentions and behaviors and by conducting a systematic review to locate evidence for this model. Guided by the Integrative Model of Behavioral Change, the proposed conceptual model focuses on the social cognitive pathways that act as explanatory mechanisms of the relations between parent–adolescent sexual communication and adolescents’ sexual intentions and behaviors, as well as the characteristics of this communication that determine its effectiveness in influencing these sexual cognitions. Thirty-eight peer-reviewed studies were systematically located and synthesized. Findings showed consistent links between parent–adolescent sexual communication and adolescents’ sexual attitudes and safe-sex efficacy (though links with perceived sexual norms were more mixed), which in turn may influence their sexual intentions and behaviors. Evidence also emerged to suggest that the characteristics of the communication itself (e.g., extent, content, quality) may influence its effectiveness over adolescents’ sexual cognitions. The identification of these processes advances theory on parent–adolescent sexual communication which has, to date, been unclear regarding these pathways. As such, these findings can inform future research efforts as well as prevention efforts seeking to promote adolescent sexual health.

Parent–Adolescent Sexual Communication

Risky sexual behavior among adolescents is a major public health concern with potentially long-lasting consequences, including pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV/AIDS. Researchers have demonstrated that parent–adolescent sexual communication can mitigate adolescent risky sexual behaviors; the development of interventions that support this process are vital. This column examines a recent study that evaluated a parent–adolescent sexual communication intervention.

A Review of Parent-Based Barriers to Parent–Adolescent Communication about Sex and Sexuality: Implications for Sex and Family Educators

Although adolescents' sexual health is generally better when parents and adolescents communicate about sex and sexuality, researchers have found parents can be reluctant to engage adolescents in conversations about those topics. To better understand why, we reviewed prior literature and identified four types of parent-based barriers to communication with adolescents about sex: limited sexual health knowledge, believing adolescents are not ready to discuss sex, discomfort discussing sex, and demographic factors. We then used the Theory of Planned Behavior to develop recommendations for how health educators can address these barriers, thereby increasing parent–adolescent sexual health communication.

Adolescent sexual health communication and condom use: a meta-analysis.

Condom use is critical for the health of sexually active adolescents, and yet many adolescents fail to use condoms consistently. One interpersonal factor that may be key to condom use is sexual communication between sexual partners; however, the association between communication and condom use has varied considerably in prior studies of youth. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to synthesize the growing body of research linking adolescents' sexual communication to condom use, and to examine several moderators of this association. A total of 41 independent effect sizes from 34 studies with 15,046 adolescent participants (M(age) = 16.8, age range = 12-23) were meta-analyzed. Results revealed a weighted mean effect size of the sexual communication-condom use relationship of r = .24, which was statistically heterogeneous (Q = 618.86, p < .001, I² = 93.54). Effect sizes did not differ significantly by gender, age, recruitment setting, country of study, or condom measurement timeframe; however, communication topic and communication format were statistically significant moderators (p < .001). Larger effect sizes were found for communication about condom use (r = .34) than communication about sexual history (r = .15) or general safer sex topics (r = .14). Effect sizes were also larger for communication behavior formats (r = .27) and self-efficacy formats (r = .28), than for fear/concern (r = .18), future intention (r = .15), or communication comfort (r = -.15) formats. Results highlight the urgency of emphasizing communication skills, particularly about condom use, in HIV/STI prevention work for youth. Implications for the future study of sexual communication are discussed.