The Role of Parental Monitoring and Affiliation with Deviant Peers in Adolescents’ Sexual Risk Taking: Toward an Interactional Model

Abstract

BackgroundAdolescence is considered as an important phase for beginning sexual high risk behaviors that increases the possibility of negative, unpleasant and problematic consequences like unwanted pregnancy and probability of copulative disease transmission.ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of sexual risk taking among students in Tehran and to develop and test a model for the relationship between parental monitoring and affiliation with deviant peers as they predict youth risky sexual behaviors.Materials and MethodsIn this cross sectional study, 1266 adolescents were recruited from high schools in Tehran and three scales of sexual risk behavior, parental monitoring and adolescent affiliation with deviant peers were completed. Data was analyzed using independent sample t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling.ResultsAccording to the results, about one-fifth of subjects were at high risk in terms of unsafe sexual relationships. The percent of positive attitude among males was nearly 2 times more than that of females. The investigated model for the mediating role of affiliation with deviant peers in the relationship between parental monitoring and sexual risk taking was confirmed and explained 0.32 of sexual risk taking variance.ConclusionsThe results of this study suggested that parental monitoring and affiliation with deviant peers largely explained sexual risk taking among adolescents. Therefore, prevention efforts aimed at reducing risky sex should compose of these factors. In fact, the results suggested that earlier prevention efforts may be warranted.

The Role of Parental Monitoring in Mediating the Link Between Adolescent ADHD Symptoms and Risk-Taking Behavior

“…Stattin and Kerr (Kerr & Stattin, 2000; Stattin & Kerr, 2000) defined parental monitoring as the parents’ knowledge about their child’s activities: knowing where, how, and with whom their children spend their time. Numerous studies have linked poor maternal monitoring with children RTB and externalizing behavioral problems (Ahmadi, Khodadadi Sangdeh, Aminimanesh, Mollazamani, & Khanzade, 2013; Dever et al, 2012; DiClemente et al, 2001; Huebner & Howell, 2003; Reynolds, MacPherson, Matusiewicz, Schreiber, & Lejuez, 2011). Furthermore, this source of information was found to be a substantially stronger predictor of child’s engagement in RTB and externalizing behavioral problems, than other parenting behaviors such as parental control and surveillance (Crouter, Bumpus, Davis, & McHale, 2005; DiClemente et al, 2001; Fletcher, Steinberg, & Williams-Wheeler, 2004; Kerr & Stattin, 2000; Stattin & Kerr, 2000).…”

Substance Use and Sexual Behaviors of Adolescents in Multicultural Families in Korea

“…3 6 7 During adolescence, relational problems with parents and peers, academic failure, and various form of social maladjustment manifest as delinquent behaviors, such taking drugs, using alcohol and cigarette, and engaging in early sexual relations. 8 9 10 Therefore, adolescents in multicultural families are assumed to be at risk for substance use and sexual behavior.…”

Comparing parental monitoring, affiliation with delinquent peers, and high-risk behaviors in single-parent and two-parent male adolescents

“…The same agent can decrease the interaction of the child with the parent. Less emotional attachment to family leads to the decrease of internalization of norms and traditional practices for the adolescents, which in turn causes adolescents to socialize and develop relationships with peer groups and various unfamiliar, and abnormal social networks that tend to be drawn to high-risk and traumatic behaviors [21][22]. In relation to the status of high-risk behaviors, the study showed that single-parent adolescents possess less adjustment compared to twoparent adolescents, and therefore are more inclined to high-risk behaviors.…”