Family Sexuality Communication Research Articles

ADOLESCENT-PARENT COMMUNICATION ON SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS OF TOKHA MUNICIPALITY, NEPAL : A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: As compared to other age groups, adolescents are more vulnerable to sexual and reproductive health issues. Parents can become protective and influencing factors for their children to prevent risky sexual behavior. Purpose: This study aimed to assess adolescent-parent communication on sexual and reproductive health and its associated factors. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study among 212 adolescents aged 15–19 in higher secondary schools of Tokha Municipality. A self-administered structured modified questionnaire to assess the communication used the Weighted Topics Measure of Family Sexual Communication tool with a simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistical analysis and chi-square tests were used to analyze data and assess the association between variables. Data quality was assured through careful questionnaire design, pretesting, and training. Results: The study found that 75.9% of adolescents had communicated on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) topics with their parents, 24.1% never communicated, 47.2% seldom communicated on SRH topics, followed by sometimes (23.6%) and often (5.2%), respectively. Adolescent-parent communication on SRH was significantly associated with the level of knowledge regarding sexual and reproductive health (ꭓ2 = 5.809, p-value = 0.01, df = 1). Similarly, there was a significant association with the perceived parenting style (ꭓ2 =3.932, p-value =0.04, df =1), living arrangements (ꭓ2 =6.376, p-value=0.01, df =1), and adolescent-parent communication. Conclusion: It concluded that adolescent-parent communication on SRH issues is not satisfactory. Creating an adolescent-friendly environment at home and conducting awareness programs with the help of the local government of the respective schools would help to increase adolescent-parent communication.

Questioning conceptualizations of openness in family sex communication: Exploring associations between family communication patterns and family sex communication quotient

ABSTRACT Family communication patterns theory (FCPT) and family sex communication research herald openness. However, scholars have begun to question whether openness operates differently when considering the difficult nature of sex talk in families. Therefore, regression analyses were conducted to better ascertain the role of openness amongst young adults’ reports of family communication patterns and reports of family sex talk from the Family Sex Communication Quotient (FSCQ). Analysis revealed conformity orientation to be a greater predictor of family sex talk via the FSCQ, negatively predicting young adults’ reports of the comfort and information dimensions, which conceptually measure openness. However, conversation orientation did not significantly predict either dimension associated with openness, instead negatively predicting the value dimension of the FSCQ, which measures the perceived importance of the family to discuss sex and related topics. No significant interaction effects of family communication patterns were found, yet gender did appear as a constraining factor on the meaning of openness measured. Results signify that openness is operationalized within family sex communication differentially from FCPT, particularly conversation orientation. Implications and directions for future research on family sex communication conclude the paper.

Family Sex Communication, Parental Acculturation, and Religiosity Among Arab American Young Adults

Family Sex Communication, Parental Acculturation, and Religiosity Among Arab American Young Adults

“Whenever You’re Ready to Talk about It”: Prompts and Barriers to Inclusive Family Sex Communication with Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Sons

Despite growing evidence that parent-child sex communication (PCSC) is a positive strategy for adolescent sexual health outcomes, there is little research about what prompts and impedes these conversations among parents of gay, bisexual, and queer (GBQ) adolescent sons. Using interview data from a multi-method qualitative study, we analyzed parental perspectives (N = 15) on non-heteronormative sex communication with GBQ adolescent sons. Our results revealed that parents are most likely to engage in sex communication if they established open communication with their child, accepted their child’s sexual orientation, encouraged safe sex practices, and were knowledgeable about LGBTQ issues. Conversely, parents who experience communication discomfort were unable to engage in inclusive and comprehensive sex conversations, thus creating a barrier to effective sex-positive communication. These findings have implications for future research and interventions that promote parents’ ability to successfully facilitate conversations about sexual health with their sexuality diverse children.

Adolescent-Parent Communication on Sexual and Reproductive Health and its Associated Factors among Higher Secondary School Students of Tokha Municipality, Kathmandu, Nepal

Introduction Physical, psychological, and emotional growth are among the changes that define the adolescent stage. As compared to other age groups, adolescents are more vulnerable to sexual and reproductive health issues. Parents can become protective and influencing factors for their children to prevent risky sexual behavior. This study aims to assess adolescent-parent communication on sexual and reproductive health and its associated factors. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 212 adolescents aged 15–19 in higher secondary schools of Tokha Municipality. A self-administered structured modified questionnaire to assess the communication used the Weighted Topics Measure of Family Sexual Communication (WTM) tool with a simple random sampling technique of data collection. We performed descriptive statistical analysis and chi-square tests to analyze data and assess the association between variables. Data quality was assured through careful questionnaire design, pretesting, and training. Results The study found that about 75.9% of adolescents had communicated on SRH topics with their parents. Only 56.1%, 50.1%, 55.2%, and 50.5% of adolescents communicated about choosing a life partner, menstruation, physical and psychological changes during adolescence, and the physical growth and development of reproductive organs, respectively, while topics like using birth controls, when to start having sex, pregnancy, how to handle sexual pressure from a partner, STI and HIV/AIDs, about condoms, and abortion had never communicated by 61.3%, 86.6%, 69.3%, 85.8%, 72.2%, 78.8%, and 82.5% of adolescents, respectively. Adolescent-parent communication on sexual and reproductive health was significantly associated with the level of knowledge regarding sexual and reproductive health (X2 = 5.809, p = 0.01, df = 1). Similarly, there was a significant association with the perceived parenting style (X2 =3.932, p =0.04, df =1), living arrangements (X2 =6.376, p=0.01, df =1), and adolescent-parent communication. Conclusion It concluded that adolescent-parent communication on SRH issues is not satisfactory. Creating an adolescent-friendly environment at home and conducting awareness programs with the help of the local government of the respective schools would help to increase adolescent-parent communication.

Family Sex Communication Among Arab American Young Adults: A Mixed-Methods Study.

There is a significant gap in understanding the sexual health of Arab Americans. The purpose of this study is to explore family sex communication among Arab American young adults and its association with gender and sexual attitudes. We used a parallel mixed methods design and administered an electronic survey (N = 100); a subsample of 24 participants participated in five focus groups. We observed convergence in the findings. Participants reported rare occurrences of family sex communication, with women reporting less comfort than men. Family sex communication was often "unspoken," and reinforced prevailing social norms. Gender differences were reported based on sex communication topics. The most common source of sex information was peers/friends. Focus group participants perceived their parents to be more conservative and less knowledgeable about sex than they were. Future research on strategies to bridge generational differences is needed to promote family-based sex communication, given the multiple teachable moments at home.

Father-Teen Talks about Sex and Teens' Sexual Health: The Role of Direct and Indirect Communication.

Family talks about sex can protect against teens’ risky sexual behavior, but most research has focused on the role of mothers. The current study included cross-sectional survey data from 728 adolescents in the 11th and 12th grades (Mage = 17.00, SD = 0.90) in the United States. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess associations between teens’ direct and indirect talk, defined as less straightforward ways to communicate one’s sexual values, with fathers about sex, and teens’ sexual behaviors. There were no significant direct associations between father-teen talk about sex and teens’ sexual behavior. However, teen gender moderated associations between indirect father-teen communication and teens’ sexual behavior. The results suggest the need to assess indirect talk about sex in studies of family sexuality communication and to further investigate the role of teens’ identities in determining the influence of father-teen talk about sex on teens’ sexual behavior.

Perceiving sexual harassment and #metoo social media campaign among Chinese female college students

ABSTRACT This study responds to the alarmingly frequent occurrence of sexual harassment (SH) in Chinese colleges by investigating female college students’ experience, tolerance of SH and evaluation of the #metoo social media campaign. Guided by the system justification theory, this study has confirmed the association between their tolerance of SH, the traditional gender role value and hostile sexism they hold. In total, 31% of variance of tolerance of SH can be explained by the variables of cultural values and sex information access. Hostile sexism is significantly predictive of tolerance of SH, but not of the evaluation of the #metoo campaign. As the first of its kind, this study has demonstrated the positive relationships between family sex communication, school sex education and the tolerance of SH in current China. Moreover, the respondents’ evaluation on the #metoo social media campaign is reversely related to their family sex communication. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Predictors of Sex Anxiety: Emphasis on Religion in Childhood, Religious Values, and Family Communication

Little is known or understood about which factors relate to sex anxiety. Specifically, there is a gap in the literature on the relationship of sex anxiety to an individual’s religious emphasis and values pertaining to monotheistic religions. The purpose of this study was to explore a potential relationship between emphasis on religious values during childhood, current religious values, and caregiver-child conversations regarding sex and anxiety surrounding sex acts and practices. It was hypothesized that increased emphasis placed on religious practices during childhood, lower family sex communication, and high religious values would correlate to high levels of sex anxiety. The findings indicate limited family communications about sex and religious emphasis during childhood as statistically significant contributors to the variance in sex anxiety. Current religious beliefs did not contribute to the variance in sex anxiety. The relationships between sex anxiety, family communication, and emphasis on religion during childhood reinforce the impact of community socialization and the importance of early education. Implications for researchers, advocates, religious or community leaders, and care providers are discussed.

Sex behaviours and family sexuality communication among Hispanic adolescents

ABSTRACT This study compared the extent to which Hispanic teenagers talk with mothers, fathers and extended family members about risks of sex, protection and relational sex, as well as the role of teenagers’ gender on the association between sexuality communication and risky sexual behaviours. The analysis is based upon 474 Hispanic young people’s responses to a school-based survey recruited from six New England high schools. We (1) calculated descriptive statistics and tests of difference by teenagers’ gender, and (2) ran logistic regression models for engaging in three different risky sexual behaviors separately by gender. There were significant gender differences in teenagers’ talk with mothers and fathers, but not with extended family members. There was consistent ‘gender matching’ between teenagers and the extended family member they talked to. The content of sexuality communication, the family member the teenager talked to and the gender of the teenager all contributed to whether communication was protective for teenagers’ sexual behaviour. There are substantial differences in the types of sexuality communication Hispanic teenagers have with different family members, which are closely tied to teenager’s and the family member’s gender. Results suggest that one size does not fit all when it comes to family communication about sex and sexuality.

Family Sexuality Communication: Parent Report for Autistic Young Adults Versus a Comparison Group.

Families are a critical context for healthy sexuality development. This study characterized family sexuality communication for autistic adults (age 18-30) without intellectual disability (n = 117) versus a neurotypical comparison group (n = 319). Parent-reported number of sexuality topics covered did not significantly differ by gender or autism/comparison group. Parents of autistic adults who covered few or no topics (31%) reported higher religiosity, lower comfort and self-efficacy, and were less likely to say that the adult expressed attraction or desire for relationships. Parents of autistic adults were more likely than comparison parents to perceive their young person as being uninterested or not ready to learn about sexuality topics. These results suggest that families of autistic people require support to convey sexuality-related knowledge and values.

A Larger Ecology of Family Sexuality Communication: Extended Family Perspectives on Relationships, Sexual Orientation, and Positive Aspects of Sex.

Extended family can be a resource for conversations about sex, but extended family perspectives have been largely left out of existing research. The present study investigates how extended family, such as aunts and uncles, siblings and cousins, perceive communication with teens in their families about sex. A thematic analysis was conducted with data from interviews in the U.S. with 39 extended family members, primarily siblings, who reported talk with teens in their families about sex. The analyses identified one theme focused on perspectives surrounding what is most important for teens to know about sex and relationships and seven themes focused on the content of conversations with teens about sex. The most prevalent content areas were: Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships (87%), Sexual Orientation (82%), Sexual Behavior (82%), and Protection (74%). The findings highlight extended family members’ unique roles in supporting the sexual health of teens in their families, which include providing information and support about issues other family members may not address, such as sexual orientation and the positive aspects of sex. The findings suggest the need to include extended family in sex education interventions to reflect the broader ecology of teens’ family relationships and access an underutilized resource for teens’ sexual health.

Family factors associated with emerging adults’ human papillomavirus vaccine behavior

Objective: The current study examined the role of family influences on the vaccine behavior of emerging adults. Participants: In Spring 2017, we conducted anonymous online surveys of undergraduate students (n = 608) at a large, public university in the mid-Atlantic. Methods: Logistic regression was used to examine associations between family factors and students’ awareness of the HPV vaccine, vaccine receipt, and vaccine intentions. Family factors included sex communication, religiosity, parental monitoring, family structure, and parents’ birthplace. Results: More comprehensive family sex communication is associated with less uncertainty regarding HPV vaccine receipt and greater likelihood of being already vaccinated. More frequent family religiosity and more parental monitoring are associated with greater likelihood of having decided against vaccination rather than already being vaccinated. Significant gender and racial disparities exist. Conclusion: Further research, policy, and programmatic intervention are needed to reduce disparities and to improve emerging adults’ compliance with HPV vaccine recommendations.

Family Sexuality Communication for Adolescent Girls on the Autism Spectrum.

Families are critical for supporting healthy sexuality and relationship development for youth with autism. The objective of this study was to describe family sexuality communication for adolescent girls with autism. Participants were 141 parents of autistic daughters who completed an online survey about sexuality development. Most parents relied on discussion alone rather than visual supports or skills-based teaching techniques. Intellectual functioning, child age, race/ethnicity, and whether youth expressed sexual interest in others affected family sexuality communication. We discuss how most parents covered important basics, but many did not cover more nuanced relationship or sexual health topics during family sexuality communication. Few used enhanced instructional techniques (e.g., visual supports, social stories), suggesting potential utilization barriers such as a lack of affordable and available resources. There is a need for research accounting for diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations including asexuality/demisexuality, and for transgender and gender diverse youth.

Let’s Talk About Sex: Family Communication Predicting Sexual Attitude, Sexual Experience, and Safe Sex Behaviors in Malaysia

Objectives: This study examined whether family sexual communication (FSC) can predict sexual attitude, initiation of sexual experience, and practice of safe sex behaviors among unmarried Malaysian young adults. Method: Three hundred eighty Malaysians aged between 18 and 30 years completed an anonymous online survey. Results: Multiple regressions and logistic regression were used in the data analysis. FSC was a significant predictor of sexual attitude, experience, and behaviors. Among the 3 dimensions of FSC, comfort significantly predicted sexual experience, information significantly predicted sexual attitude, and value significantly predicted sexual attitude and behaviors. Conclusion: Parents play a significant role in influencing their children’s sexual attitude, experience, and behaviors.

Parents' Perspectives on Family Sexuality Communication from Middle School to High School.

Parents’ conversations with teens about sex and relationships can play a critical role in improving teenage reproductive health by reducing teens’ risky sexual behavior. However, little is known about how teen-parent communication changes from early to middle adolescence and how parents can tailor their communication to address their teens’ changing development and experiences during these periods. In this longitudinal qualitative study, U.S. parents (N = 23) participated in interviews when their teens were in early adolescence, then again when the teens were in middle adolescence. Participants were largely mothers and were from diverse racial/ethnic and educational backgrounds. Thematic analysis was used to assess continuity and change in parents’ perceptions of teen-parent communication. Findings showed that many parents adapted their conversations with their teens about sex and relationships as teens developed. Once teens had entered high school, more parents described feeling comfortable with their conversations. However, parents also more often reported that their teens responded negatively to the communication in high school than they had in middle school. These findings may help parents to anticipate their own as well as their teens’ responses to family conversations about sex at different developmental time points and to strategize how to effectively talk with their teens about sex and relationships to improve their teens’ overall reproductive health.

A Turkish Adaptation of Weighted Topics Measure of Family Sexual Communication Scale

A Turkish Adaptation of Weighted Topics Measure of Family Sexual Communication Scale

“If There’s One Benefit, You’re not Going to Get Pregnant”: the Sexual Miseducation of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Individuals

Despite growing attention to gay and lesbian concerns, today’s current sex education curriculum in schools and families is still centered upon heterosexuality. Those studies that examine family sex communication and school-based sex education commonly reflect and take place within a heterosexual context as well, which largely ignores the perspective of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. This study situates non-heterosexual individuals at the center of the sex education discussion. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 10 self-identified lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) young adults between the ages of 19–25, this study explores what these individuals learn when it comes to sex education in school and in the home. The findings show that LGB young adults experience sex education, whether at home, school, or through their own searching, that is heterosexually centered, revolves around sex as being dangerous, and is often lacking the most basic health and behavior information. Findings from my study indicate the importance of providing sexual information that covers a wide range of sexual orientations and behaviors as it benefits all teens, especially those who are not heterosexual. Implications for parents and schools regarding sex education are discussed in addition to limitations and directions for future research.

The role of extended family in diverse teens' sexual health.

Despite increasing extended family involvement in childrearing, particularly in minority families, few studies investigate their role in talking with teens about sex or how this relates to teens' sexual behavior. This mixed methods study assesses extended family sexuality communication through a survey of 1492 diverse middle school students and interviews with 32 students. Logistic regression shows that participants who report having had sex are more likely to report talking with extended family than those who report not having had sex. Interview themes explored reasons for and content of teen sexuality conversations with extended family. More sexually active teens' reporting communication with extended family is interpreted as extended family members gaining importance in sexuality communication as teens become sexually active.

It's Supposed to Be Personal: Personal and Educational Factors Associated with Sexual Health Attitudes, Knowledge, Comfort and Skill in Health Profession Students

The health professional and the patient are cultural beings with beliefs and attitudes that are shaped by family traditions, social development, and exposure to novel experiences. As such, it is especially important for health profession students to gain awareness about the personal and educational factors that likely inform their practice and educational experiences and, as a result, impact their attitudes, knowledge, comfort, and skill in the area of sexual health. The current study sought to understand personal factors in health profession students associated with these sexual health competencies. Several early personal factors (gender, social class, and family sexuality communication), current personal factors (religion, spirituality, and relationship history), and educational factors (perceived quality of education and experience) were significantly related with sexual health competency. Results suggest that there is potential value to tailored interventions, student self-reflection, and interprofessional education among health profession students’ for the promotion of sexual health competency.