Parenting Processes Related to Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviors of Adolescent Males and Females

Abstract

In an attempt to extend the current body of relevant research the author examined which parenting behaviors are related to sexual risk taking among sexually active male and female adolescents. Parenting behaviors considered were communication about sexual issues support and psychological and behavioral controls. The extent of sexual risk taking was assessed through the use of a composite measure of the number of sex partners the consistency of contraceptive use and the effectiveness of contraceptive method used. The sample of 350 mainly White 9th-12th-grade students was drawn from a population of 2257 junior and high school students surveyed as part of a larger study conducted in 2 counties in a northern midwestern state of the US. All of the sampled teens reported having had sexual intercourse at least once with 56% having had sexual relations with only 1 person and 7% having had 5 or more sex partners. 56% reported always using contraception 12% reported occasional contraceptive use and 23% reported never or rarely using contraception. Parental communication about sexual matters and parental support were not directly associated with sexual risk taking but an interaction effect between parental support and communication was observed for sexually active males. However the significant effect of that interaction was due to the large proportion of high-risk sexually active males who discussed sexual issues with a parent they viewed as unsupportive. For females parental psychological control increased the odds that a sexually active daughter would take more sexual risks. Parental monitoring significantly decreased the odds that sexually active male and female adolescents would be high-risk takers.