The current study examined gender differences in communication about sex-related topics in a community sample of urban, African-American mothers and adolescents living in impoverished neighborhoods with high HIV rates. One hundred and sixty-two mother-adolescent dyads completed self-report measures of sex-related communication. Youth also reported on their sexual risk. We identified the range of sexual-based topics that adolescents discussed with their mothers, fathers, friends, and at school. The relationship between the frequency of sexual communication and sexual risk was examined. We also investigated congruency between adolescent and mother report about whether sexual-based discussions occurred. Consistent with prior research, girls talked to their mothers, fathers, friends, and at school about sex-related topics more than boys. Findings indicated that mothers not only communicated more frequently about sexual issues with their daughters than sons but that parental messages for girls were more protective. Greater sexual communication with mother was significantly associated with decreased HIV risk in the past 90 days and increased protection from HIV. Inconsistencies between mother and adolescent reports about sexual communication were marginally associated with decreased protection from HIV. Findings reveal the protective effect of sexual communication and the general lack of congruence between mother and adolescent reports of sexual communication.

This study examines the relationship between dating violence, forced sexual intercourse (FSI), and four measures of sexual risk taking (i.e., age at first sex, number of recent (within the last three months) sex partners, alcohol/drug use at last sex, and condom use at last sex) among a sample of 1124 ethnically diverse sexually active adolescents in Illinois. Given conflicting reports regarding the role of gender in dating violence, and the dearth of research examining the role of gender in relations between dating violence, sexual violence, and sexual risk taking, we also examine whether gender moderates the relation between these constructs. The findings indicate significant relationships among dating violence and FSI and age at first sex, number of sexual partners, and condom use across various ethnic groups. Findings also show that when controlling for gender, dating violence and FSI are related to number of sexual partners and age at first intercourse regardless of ethnic group identification.

This study introduces the notion of nonagentic sexual interaction and presents findings describing its prevalence, characteristics, and consequences among a representative sample of 566 undergraduate women. One third of respondents reported one or more nonagentic sexual interactions during a single academic year, and more than half of the senior respondents reported one or more interactions during their college careers. Relations between these interactions' behavioral characteristics and four psychological outcome measures provide limited empirical support for the notion that interactions involving a higher degree of physical intrusion and more forceful tactics are more distressing than those involving less intrusion and more subtle tactics. Narrative accounts illustrate the complexity of these interactions. Implications of nonagentic sexual experiences for healthy sexuality development are discussed.