Parent-adolescent Communication Research Articles

Taking adolescents' agency in socialization seriously: The role of appraisals and cognitive-behavioral responses in autonomy-relevant parenting.

Parent-adolescent relationships are highly bidirectional in nature, with parental behaviors affecting adolescents' adjustment and with adolescents' behaviors, in turn, eliciting parental practices. However, there is more to adolescents' agency in the socialization process than simple reciprocity. Adolescents contribute actively to the quality and nature of the parent-adolescent relationship by giving meaning to parental behaviors and by engaging in cognitive-behavioral responses to parenting. These processes are discussed in the context of autonomy-relevant parenting, a dimension of parenting with pivotal importance for adolescents' psychosocial adjustment. We call for more research on the micro-processes involved in adolescents' agency because such research can yield a deeper insight in adolescents' differential susceptibility to parenting (depending on factors such as age, culture, and personality). It can also help to explain the multifinality involved in parenting, with, for instance, controlling parenting relating to distinct developmental problems in different adolescents. Finally, such research has applied value because it can help identify adolescents most at risk for the consequences of adverse parenting, and because it can help inform prevention programs aimed at strengthening constructive parent-adolescent communication.

Factors in Adolescent Happiness: Material Factors vs. Relational Factors

본 연구는 청소년과 그 부모를 대상으로 청소년의 행복에 영향을 미치는 요인들을 고찰하고 그 영향력을 분석하고자 하였다. 변수들의 구성은 청소년의 발달적 특성을 고려하여 인구사회학적, 가족적, 사회적 차원으로 구분하고, 물질적 측면과 관계적 측면을 살펴보고자 하였다. 물질적 측면을 검증하는 변수는 부모의 생활수준으로 상정하였다. 관계적 측면을 검증하는 변수는 종교성, 부모-자녀 간 의사소통, 사회적 자본과 같은 (대인) 관계 변수들로 구성하였다. 분석자료는 한국콘텐츠진흥원 게임이용패널조사 9차년도 (2018) 자료를 이용하여 회귀분석을 수행하였다. 연구결과, 자녀의 성별과 학년은 행복에 유의한 영향을 미쳤다. 부모의 생활수준은 인구사회학적 요인만을 투입했을 때는 행복에 유의한 영향을 미쳤으나, 가족관계 요인과 사회적 관계 요인을 추가하자 유의성을 상실하였다. 자녀의 종교성은 행복에 유의한 정적 영향을 미쳤고, 부모의 종교성은 행복에 유의한 부적 영향을 미쳤다. 부모의 행복은 자녀의 행복에 유의한 정적 영향을 미쳤다. 자녀가 지각한 부모와의 의사소통은 자녀의 행복에 유의한 정적 영향을 미쳤으나, 부모가 지각한 자녀와의 의사소통은 자녀의 행복에 부적 영향을 미쳤다. 자녀의 사회적 자본은 행복에 유의한 정적 영향을 미쳤다. 연구결과를 바탕으로 청소년의 행복에 영향을 미치는 종교의 역할, 부모-자녀 간 의사소통, 사회적 자본의 중요성을 논하였다.This study aimed to examine and analyze the factors affecting the happiness of adolescents. For this study, data from the 9th year of the Game User Panel Survey of the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) (2018) was used. The results are as follows. First, children’s gender and grade level had significant effects on children’s happiness. The parents’ standard of living had a significant effect when only demographic and sociological factors were added, but when the familial and social relational factors were added, they no longer affected children’s happiness. Second, children’s religiosity had a significant positive effect on happiness, but parents’ religiosity had a significant negative effect on children’s happiness. Third, parents’ happiness had a significant positive effect on children’s happiness. Fourth, the adolescent-parent communication as perceived by the adolescent had a significant positive effect on the adolescent’s happiness, but the parent-adolescent communication as perceived by the parent had a negative effect on the adolescent’s happiness. Fifth, adolescent’s social capital had a significant positive impact on happiness. Based on the results of the study, we discussed the importance of the role of religion, communication attitude between parent and child, and social capital with regard to adolescents‘ happiness.

Parent-Adolescent Sex Communication with Sexual and Gender Minority Youth: An Integrated Review.

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth experience adverse sexual health outcomes at higher rates than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. Although parent-adolescent sex communication (PASC) is associated with improved sexual health outcomes among heterosexual youth, less is known about PASC with SGM youth. Studies describing experiences of SGM youth and parents during PASC and/or health outcomes of PASC were reviewed. Eleven studies met inclusion criteria, and six themes emerged. These included: (1) limited communication and barriers to communication, (2) impact of SGM disclosure on communication, (3) HIV and/or sexually transmitted disease-focused communication, (4) heteronormative communication, (5) outcomes of communication, and (6) youth preferences for PASC. Parent-adolescent sex communication was complicated by barriers to communication and was limited, heteronormative, and influenced by SGM disclosure. Parent-adolescent sex communication may improve sexual health outcomes, but adequate parental education and guidance is lacking. This review identifies ways that health providers can foster positive and inclusive PASC.

Evaluation of effectiveness of a sexuality education program for parents of male adolescents: promoting of parent-adolescent sexual communication.

Parents play a significant role in promoting of healthy sexuality in adolescents. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of a sexuality education intervention program to enhance parent-adolescent sexual communication. This study was a randomized controlled field trial. Parents of male adolescent aged 13-16 years were recruited from eight public all-boys high schools in Karaj, Iran. A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used and 102 parents were assigned into intervention and control groups. The recruitment and data collection process lasted from February to November 2019. Self-report demographic questionnaire and six general parenting and parent-adolescent sexual communication measures were used to assess the impact of intervention. Sexuality education program was presented for the parents of intervention group, in the form of four weekly 2-h sessions. Parents were assessed at the baseline, within one week post-intervention, and three-month follow-up to evaluate the outcome variables. The data were analyzed using the Chi-square test, two-sample t-test, general linear model analyses, and Bonferroni test. In terms of parent-adolescent general communication, parental monitoring, parent-adolescent communication about sex-related topics, parent's sexual communication skills, parent's self-efficacy, and responsiveness to sexual communication. There were no significant differences between intervention and control groups at the baseline (p>0.05). Compared to controls, intervention parents reported more improvement in general communication across the time; however, significant differences were not observed regarding general communication and parental monitoring (p=0.94, p=0.95). Parents in the intervention group significantly differed from those in the control group for the mean scores of parent-adolescent communication about sex-related topics (p=0.04), parent's sexual communication skills (p=0.04), parent's self-efficacy (p=0.002), and responsiveness (p<0.001) to sexual communication at each follow-up. We identified the educational program as a promising tool for improving parent-adolescent communication regarding sexuality-related issues. This program provides the evidence for implementation of parent-based sexuality education programs.

Sexual and reproductive health communication between parents and high school adolescents in Vientiane Prefecture, Lao PDR

ABSTRACT Background Adolescent health has become a priority on the global health agenda. Parent-adolescent communication regarding sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues can help to reduce adolescent risk-taking sexual behaviours. Objective This study was to describe the situation of SRH communication, and to determine the factors associated with SRH communication between high school students and their parents in Vientiane Capital prefecture, Lao PDR. Methods A multistage sampling technique was applied. A self-administered questionnaire was implemented among a sample of 384 high school students aged 14–17 in Vientiane. SRH communication in this study was recorded as the frequency with which adolescents discussed with their parents at least four topics on SRH issues during a six-month period prior to the interview. Data were entered and analysed using Epi Data software version 6.0 and STATA software version 14.2. Results Slightly more than one-fifth of the students (21.3%) communicated with parents on SRH issues. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that being a male adolescent (AOR = 2.1; 95% CI 1.2 to 3.5), urban school locations (AOR = 0.2; 95% CI 0.1 to 0.5), a mature father (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI 1.0 to 2.9), positive attitudes towards general communication with parents (AOR = 2.2; 95% CI 1.1 to 4.2) and accessibility to multiple SRH information sources (AOR = 5.2; 95% CI 2.4 to 11.4) were significantly associated with adolescent-parent communication on SRH issues. Conclusion This study showed that student-parent communication on SRH issues was low, so policymakers should develop programs to improve SRH communication skills in all schools and encourage open discussion among family members, especially with respect to the participation of adolescent girls. The positive attitudes of students and multiple sources of SRH information were also important factors in improving SRH communication.

Parent-Adolescent Communication on Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues and Associated Factors among Preparatory and Secondary School Students of Dabat Town, Northwest Ethiopia.

Background A significant number of adolescents as well as young men and women aged 10 to 24 years die each year in the world due to avoidable sexual and reproductive health problems such as unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. This is attributed to low access to and/or uptake of sexual and reproductive health services. Objective To assess parent-adolescent communication on sexual and reproductive health issues and associated factors among secondary and preparatory school students in Dabat town, northwest Ethiopia, 2018. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1 to 10, 2018, using multistage sampling technique. Data were collected from 550 participants using structured, pretested, and self-administered questionnaire; entered into Epi Info version 7; and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed, and variables with less than 0.05 P value in the multivariable regression were considered as statistically significant. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI was used to determine the strengths and directions of associations. Result This study revealed that 48.5% of the participants discussed sexual and reproductive health issues with parents. Male sex (AOR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1–2.25), family income greater than ETB 1,000 (AOR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.02–2.57), good knowledge of sexual and reproductive health (AOR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.03–2.09), and favorable attitude to sexual and reproductive health issues (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.29–2.67) were factors significantly associated with parent-adolescent communication on the issues. Conclusion This study showed that the proportion of parent-adolescent communication on sexual and reproductive health issues was low. Male sex, family income greater than ETB 1,000, and good knowledge and favorable attitude of adolescents had significant association with the communication.

Trends over Time in Adolescent Emotional Wellbeing in the Netherlands, 2005-2017: Links with Perceived Schoolwork Pressure, Parent-Adolescent Communication and Bullying Victimization

In some Scandinavian countries, the United Kingdom and the United States, there is evidence of a dramatic decline in adolescent emotional wellbeing, particularly among girls. It is not clear to what extent this decline can be generalised to other high-income countries. This study examines trends over time (2005-2009-2013-2017) in adolescent wellbeing in the Netherlands, a country where young people have consistently reported one of the highest levels of wellbeing across Europe. It also assesses parallel changes over time in perceived schoolwork pressure, parent-adolescent communication, and bullying victimization. Data were derived from four waves of the nationally representative, cross-sectional Dutch Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (N = 21,901; 49% girls; Mage = 13.78, SD = 1.25). Trends in emotional wellbeing (i.e., emotional symptoms, psychosomatic complaints, life satisfaction) were assessed by means of multiple regression analyses with survey year as a predictor, controlling for background variables. Emotional wellbeing slightly declined among adolescent boys and girls between 2009 and 2013. A substantial increase in perceived schoolwork pressure was associated with this decline in emotional wellbeing. Improved parent-adolescent communication and a decline in bullying victimization may explain why emotional wellbeing remained stable between 2013 and 2017, in spite of a further increase in schoolwork pressure. Associations between emotional wellbeing on the one hand and perceived schoolwork pressure, parent-adolescent communication, and bullying victimization on the other were stronger for girls than for boys. Overall, although increasing schoolwork pressure may be one of the drivers of declining emotional wellbeing in adolescents, in the Netherlands this negative trend was buffered by increasing support by parents and peers. Cross-national research into this topic is warranted to examine the extent to which these findings can be generalised to other high-income countries.

Discrepancies in parents’ and adolescents’ reports on parent-adolescent communication and associations to adolescents’ psychological health

Parental knowledge of adolescents’ whereabouts is central for healthy adolescent development. However, parents and their adolescent children often perceive parenting practices differently. Using data from matching parent and adolescent dyads (n = 477) from the longitudinal research program LoRDIA, we investigated in what way disagreement between parents’ and adolescents’ reports on parental knowledge, solicitation and behavioral control and adolescent disclosure, is longitudinally related to girls’ and boys’ psychological problems (internalizing and externalizing) and well-being. The adolescents’ mean age was 13.0 years (SD = .56) at T1 and 14.30 years (SD = .61) at T2, evenly distributed between boys (52.6%) and (47.4%) girls at baseline. The discrepancy scores were calculated by subtracting the adolescent’s scores from the parent’s scores. Parent-adolescent discrepancies had somewhat different patterns of associations with boys’ and girls’ psychological problems and well-being. Parental knowledge discrepancy was related to higher levels of girls’ externalizing problems while parental solicitation discrepancy was related to higher levels of boys’ externalizing problems and lower levels of girls’ wellbeing. Adolescent disclosure discrepancy was related to higher levels of girls’ internalizing problems and lower levels of well-being. Negative concurrent associations were shown between parental control discrepancy and adolescents’ internalizing problems. Parents’ overestimating the level of parent-adolescent communication, including adolescent disclosure, and parental solicitation in particular, is disadvantageous for adolescent psychological health.

Sexual Communication between Parents and Adolescents: Perception of Secondary School Students in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

This study assessed the characterization of parent-adolescents’ sexual communication of secondary school students in Abeokuta South Local Government of Ogun State, Nigeria. 411 adolescents were selected using multistage sampling techniques. Quantitative data was obtained with a semi-structured questionnaire. An in-depth interview was carried out to further explore parent-adolescent sexual communication as a representation of the qualitative data. Both quantitative and qualitative data collected were analysed using descriptive and thematic content analyses. Results revealed that most (64.5%) of the respondents had moderate perception of parent-adolescent communication. The findings of the qualitative analysis revealed themes of sexual communication including puberty, abstinence from sex, and HIV/AIDS. Parents’ awareness to sexual communication promoting was associated to physical changes during puberty and adolescents’ attitudes. Although, adolescents prefer to discuss sexual issues with their mothers, time factor for such discussion was a major constraint. In addition, adolescent perceived unwillingness on the part of parent to initiate or sustain sexual communication issues despite their knowledgeability. Adolescents perceived that their parents are knowledgeable about sexual communication but not willing to communicate sexual issues with them. The study concludes that parents’ unwillingness for sexual talk and time factors could pose threats to achieving effective parent-adolescent sexual communication. Hence, it is recommended that parents should engage in timely communication on sexual related issues often during early adolescence phase. It is imperative for fathers also, to create a conducive atmosphere for active sexual communication with their children especially male adolescents.

Does Youth-Friendly Service Intervention Reduce Risky Sexual Behavior in Unmarried Adolescents? A Comparative Study in West Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.

BackgroundRisky sexual behavior established during adolescence adversely affect young people’s health and well-being. Youth-friendly services (YFS) programs are believed to improve the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents. Little is known about the effect of YFS programs on adolescents’ sexual behavior in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study assessed the sexual behavior of unmarried adolescents in YFS-program and nonprogram areas and factors contributing to their sexual behavior in West Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsThis community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,125 randomly selected unmarried adolescents (545 from program areas and 580 from nonprogram areas) in June 2018. Data were collected in face-to-face interviews using a pretested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Between groups, comparisons were made using χ2 and t-tests. A hierarchical logistic regression model was employed to identify important variables explaining risky sexual behavior.ResultsOf all respondents, 305 (27.1%) had risky sexual behavior, which was comparable between the YFS-program and nonprogram areas (25.0% vs 29.1%, p=0.12). Including YFS program-related variables in the hierarchical regression model did not improve the explanation of risky sexual behavior over the individual attributes. On the other hand, including interpersonal-related variables (eg, with parents) significantly improved the explanation of risky sexual behavior over and above individual attributes and YFS program–related variables. A point increase in parent–adolescent communication score reduced risky sexual behavior by 20% (AOR 0.80, 95% CI 0.75–0.85). Being female, being older, having knowledge on family planning and HIV, out of school, and watching pornography were associated with higher odds of engaging in risky sexual behavior.ConclusionRisky sexual behavior was comparable between settings. Parent–adolescent communication about sexual and reproductive health issues is more important in predicting adolescents’ risky sexual behavior than other variables. Therefore, interventions should give emphasis to parent–adolescent communication to reduce adolescents’ risky sexual behavior.

여자중학생이 지각한 부모-자녀 의사소통이 학교적응에 미치는 영향 : 자기효능감을 조절변인으로

본 연구는 여자 중학생을 대상으로 부모-자녀의 의사소통이 학교적응에 미치는 영향에 있어 자기효능감이 조절변인으로 기능하는지 검증하고자 하였다. 본 연구를 위해 J시의 여자 중학생 271명을 대상으로 부모-자녀 의사소통 척도, 자기효능감 척도와 학교적응 척도를 실시했다. 주요한 연구결과는 첫째, 여자 중학생이 지각한 부모와의 개방적 의사소통은 모두 학교적응과 정적 상관관계가 있었다. 또한 부와의 개방적 의사소통은 자기효능감과 정적 상관이 있는 반면, 모와의 개방적 의사소통은 자기효능감과 상관이 크지 않았다. 그러나 부모와의 폐쇄적 의사소통은 모두 자기효능감과 부적 상관이 있었다. 둘째, 여자 중학생의 부와의 개방적 의사소통이 학교적응에 긍정적 영향을 주었다. 셋째, 부와의 개방적 의사소통과 학교적응과의 긍정적 관계에서 자기효능감이 정적 조절변인으로 기능함이 검증되었다. 본 연구 결과 여자 중학생의 학교적응을 증진시키기 위해서는 부와의 개방적 의사소통과 자기효능감 증진을 위한 심리교육과 상담의 필요성이 크다는 것이 제시되었다. 본 연구의 의의와 한계점이 논의되었다.

Parent-Child Communication Outcomes of a RCT Testing a Legacy Intervention for Children with Advanced Cancer (GP703)

•Explain gaps in legacy research for pediatric palliative care and oncology.•Explain key components of our legacy intervention for children with advanced cancer.•Explain methods of our study that was part of a larger RCT. Although legacy-building is a priority for quality palliative care, research has rarely examined effects of legacy interventions in children, particularly their impact on parent-child communication. We examined the impact of a legacy intervention on parent-child communication. We hypothesized that compared to usual care, legacy-making would improve quality of parent-child communication. Between 2015 and 2018, Facebook advertisements were used to recruit families of children (ages 7-17) with relapsed/refractory cancer. Parent-child dyads were randomly assigned to the intervention or usual care group. The intervention website guided children to create digital storyboards over 2 weeks by directing them to answer legacy questions about themselves and upload photographs, videos, and music. Families received a copy of the child's final digital story. Children and parents completed the Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale pre- (T1) and post-intervention (T2). Linear regressions tested for differences in change from T1 to T2 between the groups controlling for T1 values using an alpha of p < .05. Intervention effects were measured using Cohen's d. Frequency distributions summarized parent feedback on the intervention. Ninety-eight parent-child dyads were included for analysis. Changes in parent-child communication were not statistically significantly different between the groups, yet meaningful intervention effects were observed. The strongest effects were observed for improving father-child communication (Cohen's d = 0.21-0.31). Parents reported that the intervention improved parent-child communication (72%) and child expression of feelings (86%). Although quantitative results suggest small effects of legacy-making most notably on father-child communication, qualitative findings indicate more positive experiences to the intervention for both the child and parents.

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.

Mental health and substance use in urban left-behind children in China: A growing problem

Children left behind by their migrant parents in urban and rural areas represent two vulnerable but distinct populations that have emerged due to the large-scale population migrations that occur within China. In 2015, there were an estimated 28 million urban left-behind children and around 41 million rural left-behind children. The purpose of this study was to examine the mental health status and substance use behaviors of urban left-behind children and urban children still living with their parents in comparison to rural left-behind children. This study also sought to investigate how parent-adolescent communication and children’s resilience may moderate or exacerbate mental health status and/or substance use across children experiencing different forms of parental migration and hukou status (household registration system), using cross-sectional data from a school-based questionnaire survey with a sample of 4565 children living in both urban and rural counties of Anhui province. Regression model results suggest that, compared to urban children who lived with both parents, urban children who were currently left-behind appeared to exhibit higher mental health difficulties (emotional symptoms and total difficulties) and more substance use (smoking and drinking). Urban left-behind children were also found to experience more mental health problems and substance use than rural left-behind children. Our results indicated that both parent-adolescent communication and resilience were strongly associated with children’s mental health and substance use outcomes. These findings have significance for the creation and tailoring of interventions directed at urban left-behind children.

A randomized trial of an integrated cognitive behavioral treatment protocol for adolescents receiving home-based services for co-occurring disorders

The current study conducted a preliminary test of whether community mental health clinic staff could implement a multicomponent cognitive behavioral treatment, developed for adolescents with substance misuse (alcohol and/or marijuana) and comorbid psychiatric symptoms. We randomized a total of 111 families, with an adolescent 12–18 years old, referred to a home-based services program for youth with co-occurring substance use and mental health problems, to receive treatment from either masters-level therapists who received intensive cognitive behavioral therapy (I-CBT) training or from masters-level therapists who took part in a typical brief continuing education–style CBT workshop (treatment as usual, or TAU). Each family's therapist and insurance company determined the frequency and intensity of treatment. We administered follow-up assessments at 3, 6, and 12 months. There was a small, but not statistically significant, reduction in the percent days of heavy drinking and marijuana use over time for both conditions, with the overall effect across the three follow-up points favoring the I-CBT condition. There were no differences on alcohol use days or other drug use. There was also a small, but nonsignificant, positive effect over time on externalizing symptoms, depressed mood, and anxiety, favoring the I-CBT condition. Youth in the I-CBT condition relative to TAU had significantly fewer juvenile justice contacts, while the pattern of costly service use varied, with higher rates at 6-month and lower rates at 12-month follow-ups. If therapists pay greater attention to parent training and provide more parent-adolescent communication sessions, outcomes may improve above standard community care. Training enhancements, to better meet the needs of community therapists and their clinic settings, may also produce better overall results for parents and adolescents.

4384 Factors Impacting Access to Gender Affirming Care for Gender Diverse Youth in the United States

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Access to pediatric subspecialty care varies by sociodemographic factors. Providers for gender diverse youth (GDY) are rare, and GDY face health disparities, stigma, and discrimination. We examined the association between GDY access to medical and mental health care and rurality, race, parental education, and other GDY-specific factors. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We surveyed parents of GDY (&lt;18 years old) across the United States. Participants were recruited through online communities and listserves specific to parents of GDY. We determined associations between access to gender-specific medical or mental health providers and rurality, race, parental education, as well as other GDY-specific factors including age, time since telling their parent their gender identity, parent-adolescent communication, parent stress, and gender identity using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests. We calculated adjusted odds ratios using logistic regression models. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We surveyed 166 parents and caregivers from 31 states. The majority (73.2%) identified as white, 66.5% had earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, and 7.6% lived in a zip code designated rural by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. We found no evidence of association between reported GDY access to medical or mental health care and race, parental education, or rurality. We did find a significant univariate association between access to mental health care and feminine (either female or transfeminine/transfemale) gender identity (p = 0.033, OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.06 – 6.36). After controlling for parent-adolescent communication in a backwards elimination logistic regression model, it was no longer significant (p = 0.137, OR 2.05, 95% CI 0.80 – 5.25). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Despite rurality, race, and parental education impacting access to pediatric subspecialty care, we failed to find these associations among GDY accessing gender care. There is a need to better understand structural and societal barriers to care for this population including the impact of stigma and discrimination.

Parent-Adolescent Communication Influences on Anxious and Depressive Symptoms in Early Adolescence.

The unique developmental changes and important role of parents during early adolescence warrants consideration of parent-adolescent communication, including open communication, co-problem-solving, and co-rumination, and its influences on adolescents' anxious and depressive symptoms. In this study, 400 early adolescents (M age = 12.49; 54% female) recruited from a middle school completed electronic questionnaires at two time points, 5 months apart. While most bivariate associations examined between communication processes and adolescents' symptoms were significant, path analyses found unique patterns. Specifically, over time, paternal open communication was negatively associated with adolescent anxious and depressive symptoms while paternal co-rumination was positively associated with depressive, but not anxious, symptoms. In contrast, few maternal communication factors were significantly linked to adolescents' internalizing symptoms, with only maternal co-rumination surprisingly being negatively linked to depressive symptoms over time. The results suggest how parents communicate with their children may be important as early adolescents develop problem-solving and adaptive coping skills to successfully navigate new experiences.

Links among Mothers’ Dispositional Mindfulness, Stress, Perspective-Taking, and Mother-Child Interactions

How parents think about their internal states and about their emotional experiences impacts their parenting. Parents who demonstrate dispositional mindfulness, the capacity for open awareness and attention in the present moment, experience lower levels of stress. The present study assessed whether mindful parents may show more positive parenting and be perceived more favorably by their children in parent-child interactions. One hundred and twenty-seven mothers completed measures assessing mindfulness and stress, and their early adolescent children (M age = 10.87 years; SD = 0.90) completed measures assessing their mothers’ perspective-taking, and disclosure to and conflict intensity with their mothers. Using path analysis, we found that mothers’ greater dispositional mindfulness was associated with adolescent reports of greater maternal perspective-taking through less maternal stress. Further, mothers’ greater dispositional mindfulness was associated with more adolescent disclosure to mothers and less intense conflict through less maternal stress and greater maternal perspective-taking. Our results suggest that mothers’ stress and perspective-taking may indirectly link parent mindfulness and adolescent perceptions of parent-adolescent communication.

Determining the feasibility of an online, media mediation program for parents to improve parent-child sexual health communication

Media Aware Parent is an interactive, web-based program designed to equip parents to communicate with their adolescent child about sexual health and media by enhancing parental communication and media mediation skills, as well as provide them with medically-accurate sexual health knowledge. In a small feasibility study, 56 parents of 7th and 8th graders in the United States were randomly assigned to complete a prototype of Media Aware Parent or receive online resources about adolescent sexual health. Results indicated that after using the program, participants in the intervention group discussed more new sexual health topics with their child and also had stronger beliefs in the importance of parent-adolescent communication (PAC) about sexual health when compared to the control group.

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.