Condoms and Connection: Parents, Gay and Bisexual Youth, andHIVRisk

Abstract

The family has long been considered a powerful influence on youth's high-risk behaviors. However, little is known about preventive family influences for gay and bisexual youth, a group at high risk for HIV infection. For this study, qualitative interviews from a sample of 38 gay and bisexual youth and their parents/guardians underwent a thematic analysis. Youth described parent-child closeness, parental warnings, and urgings to use condoms as influences. Youth denying family influence came from families in which parent-child relationships were disrupted or HIV-related discussion was lacking. Most families reported discomfort discussing HIV risk. These findings, along with a case example, suggest how family therapists can enhance parental influence by helping these families strengthen their relationships and discuss this important topic. Video Abstract.

21st Century Parent–Child Sex Communication in the United States: A Process Review

“…Parents emphasize general communication about sex rather than engaging in talks about specific topics (Eisenberg, Sieving, Bearinger, Swain, & Resnick, 2006; Kapungu, Baptiste, Holbeck, et al, 2010; LaSala, 2015; Sneed, 2008). For example, parents tended to focus more on informational topics such as warnings about STIs and HIV protection rather than discussing personal topics such as asking if children were having sex (Sneed et al, 2013).…”

“…Parents typically remembered more incidents of having the sex talk while children reported fewer recollections (Chung et al, 2007; Fitzharris & Werner-Wilson, 2004; Hadley et al, 2009; LaSala, 2015; Miller, Ruzek, Bass, Gordon, & Ducette, 2013; Nappi, McBride, & Donenberg, 2007; O’Sullivan et al, 2005). Between grandparents and grandchildren, there was a more pronounced incongruence about which sex topics were discussed (Cornelius et al, 2008).…”

“…Daughters reported not knowing how to initiate conversations about sex and looked to their mothers to start the sex communication process (Dennis & Wood, 2012). Further, parents of gay and bisexual youth wished their sons would bring up sex topics if they have any questions, but the youth reported being reticent and wished parents would take the first step (LaSala, 2015). Similarly, most Muslim mothers did not think it was necessary to initiate conversations and said they were available if daughters need to talk (Orgocka, 2004).…”

“…According to DiIorio et al (2006), some parents’ negative feelings about their own experiences with sex communication a generation earlier often serve as an impetus to provide better sex education for their children. Parents want “to do better than their parents had done with them,” (p. 460) (Ballard & Gross, 2009; LaSala, 2015) and they intended to discuss sex when their children are younger compared to when they themselves were taught about it or when they were forced to contend with sexual silence (Alcalde & Quelopana, 2013; El-Shaieb & Wurtele, 2009; Kenny & Wurtele, 2013). Muslim mothers, for example, saw sex communication as an important duty to offer moral and emotional support to daughters, based on their own experiences lacking parental models (Orgocka, 2004).…”

Gay and Bisexual Adolescent Boys’ Perspectives on Parent–Adolescent Relationships and Parenting Practices Related to Teen Sex and Dating

“…Although most parents denied barriers, some described being uncomfortable talking about sex because of their child's sexual orientation or the gender difference between mothers and sons (Rose et al, 2014). In another study, young gay/bisexual males and their parents both described parent-adolescent closeness as protective against sexual risk behavior (LaSala, 2015) and over half of the youth indicated that family members influenced their sexual behavior. Those who denied parental influence tended to have strained relationships and reported little or no communication about sex.…”