Is There More Than One Way to Talk About Sex? A Longitudinal Growth Mixture Model of Parent–Adolescent Sex Communication

Padilla‐Walker, Laura M.; Rogers, Adam A.; McLean, Ryan D.

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.04.031

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…However, American parents tend to think of their children as too young, regardless of age, to learn about sex and are reluctant to talk to their children about sex and safer sex behaviors [ 15 ]. When discussions about safer sex behavior occur, they have larger effects on girls than boys and with youth who have these discussions with mothers instead of fathers [ 16 , 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parent-Child Sex Communication Prompts, Approaches, Reactions, and Functions According to Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Sons

Flores

Greene

Taggart

2021

IJERPH

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Minimal research on parent-child sex communication between parents and gay, bisexual, and queer (GBQ) adolescent sons prevents the formulation of interventions that would buffer or brake this youth population’s risks for HIV/STI. We sought to describe the perspectives of GBQ adolescent males on this process and the potential ways they think parents can address their sons’ informational needs, including countering youth access of sexually explicit media. We conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with GBQ male youth aged 15–20 years. Thematic and content analysis revealed four central themes: prompts and triggers, parents’ approaches, sons’ reactions, and the functions assigned to sex communication. Parents can be sources of reliable sexual health information and may be leveraged for future HIV/STI risk reduction work.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parent-Child Sex Communication Prompts, Approaches, Reactions, and Functions According to Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Sons

Flores

Greene

Taggart

2021

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Most longitudinal studies on the topic to date have looked at how parents’ sexual communication is associated with adolescents’ later sexual behavior and risk taking (Deptula et al, 2010; Wight et al, 2006). However, very few studies have examined longitudinal changes in sexual communication with parents (Grossman & Richer, 2022; Padilla-Walker, 2018; Padilla-Walker et al, 2020). Overall, longitudinal studies find that the majority of parent–child sexual communication is relatively low and stable across adolescence (Padilla-Walker, 2018; Padilla-Walker et al, 2020).…”

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

A longitudinal assessment of adolescents’ sexual communication with parents, best friends, and dating partners.

Bibby¹,

Choukas‐Bradley²,

Widman³

et al. 2023

Developmental Psychology

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Sexual health communication in adolescence is important for sexual well-being. With limited empirical work utilizing longitudinal methodologies, this study aimed to investigate how the frequency of sexual communication with parents, peers, and dating partners changes across adolescence and varies based on sex, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Participants included 886 U.S. adolescents (54.4% females; 45.9% White, 22.6% Hispanic/Latinx, 21.6% Black/African American) surveyed yearly from middle school through 12th grade. Growth curve models were used to estimate trajectories of the frequency in communication. Results showed curvilinear trajectories for adolescents' sexual communication with their parents, best friends, and dating partners over time. Although all three trajectories showed curvilinear patterns, sexual communication with parents and best friends increased earlier in adolescence and leveled off, while sexual communication with dating partners was lower in early adolescence and showed a steep increase across adolescence. Communication trajectories significantly diverged depending on adolescents' sex and race/ethnicity but not their sexual orientation. This study provides the first evidence of developmental changes over time in adolescent sexual communication with parents, best friends, and dating partners. Developmental implications for adolescents' sexual decision making are discussed. Public Significance StatementWe identified yearly trends, longitudinal trajectories, and sociodemographic differences in adolescent sexual health communication with parents, best friends, and dating partners in a diverse sample of adolescents. This information can provide insights when developing targeted interventions to reduce sexual health disparities.

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“…A study of female adolescents found that they perceived their fathers’ discomfort talking about sex and their avoidance of talking about sexual issues as interfering with their fathers’ effective communication about sex [ 20 ]. In addition, one study found that fathers are less likely to talk with their teens about sex when the teen’s mother shows high levels of maternal control [ 21 ], suggesting that the family system may also contribute to low levels of father–teen talk about sex.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Moving from Needs Assessment to Intervention: Fathers’ Perspectives on Their Needs and Support for Talk with Teens about Sex

Grossman

Richer

Hernandez

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Talk with fathers about sex and relationships can support teens’ health, but its impact is limited as few fathers talk with their teens about sexual issues. Needs assessment and fathers’ input on intervention content and structure can guide the development of programs that support fathers’ health-promoting talk with their teen children about sex and relationships. In the present study, we explored fathers’ goals in their talk with teens about sex and relationships and barriers they perceive to these conversations, as well as what they would look for in an intervention program. Content analysis was conducted using interviews in the U.S. with 43 fathers of high school-aged teens (age 14–18). Themes explored fathers’ roles in talk with teens, key messages to teens, and approaches and barriers to conversations, in addition to attitudes toward an intervention, and feedback on intervention structure, content, and process. The findings suggest that fathers see talk with teens about sex as part of their roles, but face challenges in accomplishing this goal. Fathers’ feedback highlights their openness to an intervention and can guide the development of a peer-based and interactive program that addresses how to talk with teens about sex in addition to the content of these conversations.

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Is There More Than One Way to Talk About Sex? A Longitudinal Growth Mixture Model of Parent–Adolescent Sex Communication

Cited by 15 publications

References 17 publications

Parent-Child Sex Communication Prompts, Approaches, Reactions, and Functions According to Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Sons

Parent-Child Sex Communication Prompts, Approaches, Reactions, and Functions According to Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Sons

A longitudinal assessment of adolescents’ sexual communication with parents, best friends, and dating partners.

Moving from Needs Assessment to Intervention: Fathers’ Perspectives on Their Needs and Support for Talk with Teens about Sex

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