The Sexual Experience of Latino Young Adults in College and Their Perceptions of Values About Sex Communicated by Their Parents and Friends

Abstract

This study examines the values in Latino young adults' perceptions of messages about sex during their formative years and their current level of sexual exploration and sexual assertiveness. Latino young adults in college (N ¼ 218) rated the prevalence of four types of messages they heard from parents and friends: Sex is only for marriage (procreational), sex is only appropriate in a loving relationship (relational), sex is for pleasure (recreational), and the sexual double standard. Relational sex was most prominent in parental messages; recreational sex was most prominent in friend messages. Women reported more relational sex messages and men reported more recreational sex messages from parents and friends. Fewer procreational sex messages from parents and more recreational sex messages from friends were associated with higher reported levels of sexual exploration and assertiveness. We propose that sexual exploration and assertiveness are behavioral manifestations of individualistic values embedded in sexual discourses among friends and family.

Family Influences on Hooking Up and Dating Among Emerging Adults

“…Yet several recent studies suggest that families of origin may continue to play an important role in emerging adults' lives as they negotiate their identities and relationships in a context of growing independence (Hardie and Stanik 2012;Heisler 2014;Manago et al 2015). This influence is especially likely among college-attending emerging adults who do not leave home, but live with or near family throughout their young adulthood.…”

“…Several recent studies of emerging adults have explored how families of origin shape sexual and romantic relationships post-adolescence (Arnold et al 2013;Heisler 2014;Manago et al 2015;Trinh et al 2014). In support of social learning theory, these studies show that parents influence emerging adult relationships via direct or indirect messages.…”

The Nature and Impact of Gendered Patterns of Peer Sexual Communications Among Heterosexual Emerging Adults

“…The Heterosexual Script (α female peers = .80, α male peers =.80) consists of 6 items (e.g., “It is worse for a woman to sleep around than it is for a man”). A version of this measure has been used in previous research (Fletcher et al, in press; Manago et al, in press; Trinh et al, 2014). …”

“…They also vary in their content. Analyses documenting the specific sexual themes communicated indicate that college students report occasional or frequent discussions regarding the importance of relationships, acceptance of casual sex, and endorsement of gendered sexual roles, and infrequent discussions regarding abstinence until marriage (Fletcher, Ward, Thomas, Foust, Levin, & Trinh, in press; Manago, Ward, & Aldana, in press; Trinh, Ward, Day, Thomas, & Levin, 2014). Similarly, Morgan and Zurbriggen (2012) found that college students report valuing mutual respect, romantic relationships, consent, and sexual pleasure.…”

“…For example, college students' reports of exposure to peer messages promoting recreational sex are associated with higher levels of sexual experience, more casual sexual encounters, and more sexual partners (Manago et al, in press; Trinh et al, 2014). On the other hand, college students' reports of peer messages promoting abstinence until marriage predicted less dating experience (Fletcher et al, in press).…”