Predictors of Caregiver Communication About Reproductive and Sexual Health and Sensitive Sex Topics

Abstract

Numerous studies examining parent–teen communication about sex (PTCS) have focused on reproductive and sexual health information (i.e., pregnancy, physical development, contraception), with significantly fewer addressing communication about sensitive sex topics (i.e., sexual pleasure, masturbation). This study compares predictors of communication about reproductive and sexual health to those of sensitive sex topics with early adolescents. Participants were 465 rural caregivers and their African American youth. Positive attitudes and self-efficacy for PTCS, open communication style, and older youth age predicted caregiver reports of communication about reproductive and sexual health topics. Open communication style and self-efficacy for PTCS predicted caregiver reports of communication about sensitive sex topics. For youth, only older age and being female predicted communication about reproductive and sexual health, while only being female predicted communication about sensitive sex topics. This study may inform interventions that seek to increase PTCS by highlighting strategies for improving communication about both reproductive and sensitive sex topics.

Understanding the Relationship between Religiosity and Caregiver–Adolescent Communication About Sex within African-American Families

“…Our findings support previous research suggesting caregiver attitudes about sexual communication are critical to actual communication about sex (e.g., Ritchwood et al, in press). Additionally, results support studies suggesting that the quality of caregiver-adolescent communication about sex (e.g., open communication) is critical to reducing risky sexual behavior and often considered to be a good indicator of positive and proactive parenting (DeVore & Ginsburg, 2005; Wilson & Donenberg, 2004).…”

“…Despite the known benefits of caregiver-adolescent communication about sex, many caregivers of early adolescents fail to engage their youth in such conversations (Jerman & Constantine, 2010). Lack of such communication has been linked to low self-efficacy, unfavorable attitudes, and poor outcome expectations regarding communication about sex (Guilamo-Ramos, Jaccard, Dittus, & Collins, 2008; Lehr, Demi, DiIorio, & Facteau, 2005; Miller et al, 2009; Ritchwood et al, in press). For those who engage their youth in communication about sex, concerns have been raised about the limited range of topics typically covered during such discussions (Martin & Luke, 2010; Ritchwood et al, in press; Wyckoff et al, 2008).…”

“…Lack of such communication has been linked to low self-efficacy, unfavorable attitudes, and poor outcome expectations regarding communication about sex (Guilamo-Ramos, Jaccard, Dittus, & Collins, 2008; Lehr, Demi, DiIorio, & Facteau, 2005; Miller et al, 2009; Ritchwood et al, in press). For those who engage their youth in communication about sex, concerns have been raised about the limited range of topics typically covered during such discussions (Martin & Luke, 2010; Ritchwood et al, in press; Wyckoff et al, 2008). Thus, identifying and understanding factors that influence the conditions under which caregiver-adolescent communication about sex occurs may be an important step in reducing sexual risk-taking among youth.…”

“…Previous research on factors driving communication has shown support for the integrated behavioral model. Particularly, perceived knowledge of sexual health; normative beliefs or expectations that the outcomes of such conversations will be positive; high self-efficacy to have such conversations; and positive attitudes about sexual communication have been linked to caregivers’ reasons for engaging their youth in communication about sex (Guilamo-Ramos et al, 2008; Jerman & Constantine, 2010; Ritchwood et al, in press; Williams et al, 2015). The integrated behavioral model also asserts that the target behavior must be perceived as important and there must also be an absence of environmental factors that could discourage or prevent the target behavior from being performed.…”

Father 2 Son: The Impact of African American Father–Son Sexual Communication on African American Adolescent Sons’ Sexual Behaviors

“…Parental–child communication is of particular importance during adolescence. Communication provides a vehicle by which parents communicate their attitudes, values, and beliefs about a variety of topics including sex and sexuality to their children (Albert, 2009; Grossman, Jenkins, & Richer, 2018; Ikramullah, Manlove, & Cui, 2009; Ritchwood et al, 2018). Researchers who conducted a recent meta-analysis of 52 studies reported a significant positive association between parent–child sexual communication and adolescent safe sex behavior.…”