TY - JOUR
T1 - Quality of Parent-Adolescent Conversations about Sex and Adolescent Sexual Behavior
T2 - An Observational Study
AU - Rogers, Adam A.
AU - Ha, Phuong
AU - Stormshak, Elizabeth A.
AU - Dishion, Thomas J.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse Grant DA018374 to E.A.S.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine.
PY - 2015/8/1
Y1 - 2015/8/1
N2 - Purpose Studies suggest that the quality of parent-adolescent communication about sex uniquely predicts adolescent sexual behavior. Previous studies have relied predominantly on self-report data. Observational methods, which are not susceptible to self-report biases, may be useful in examining the associations between the quality of parent-adolescent communication about sex and adolescent sexual behavior more objectively. Methods With a sample of adolescents (N = 55, 58% male, 44% white, Mage = 15.8) and their parents, we used hierarchical logistic regression analyses to examine the associations between the observed quality of parent-adolescent communication about dating and sex and the likelihood of adolescents' sexual intercourse. Results The quality of parent-adolescent communication about dating and sex predicted sexual behavior. Specifically, lecturing was associated with a higher likelihood of adolescents having had sexual intercourse. Conclusions The quality of parent-adolescent communication about sex is a unique correlate of adolescent sexual behavior and warrants further investigation. Thus, it serves as a potential target of preventive interventions that aim to foster adolescent sexual health behaviors.
AB - Purpose Studies suggest that the quality of parent-adolescent communication about sex uniquely predicts adolescent sexual behavior. Previous studies have relied predominantly on self-report data. Observational methods, which are not susceptible to self-report biases, may be useful in examining the associations between the quality of parent-adolescent communication about sex and adolescent sexual behavior more objectively. Methods With a sample of adolescents (N = 55, 58% male, 44% white, Mage = 15.8) and their parents, we used hierarchical logistic regression analyses to examine the associations between the observed quality of parent-adolescent communication about dating and sex and the likelihood of adolescents' sexual intercourse. Results The quality of parent-adolescent communication about dating and sex predicted sexual behavior. Specifically, lecturing was associated with a higher likelihood of adolescents having had sexual intercourse. Conclusions The quality of parent-adolescent communication about sex is a unique correlate of adolescent sexual behavior and warrants further investigation. Thus, it serves as a potential target of preventive interventions that aim to foster adolescent sexual health behaviors.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Observation
KW - Parent-child communication
KW - Quality of communication
KW - Sexual behavior
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84937425104&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84937425104&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.04.010
DO - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.04.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 26206438
AN - SCOPUS:84937425104
SN - 1054-139X
VL - 57
SP - 174
EP - 178
JO - Journal of Adolescent Health
JF - Journal of Adolescent Health
IS - 2
ER -