Parent–child communication and adolescent sexual decision making: An application of family communication patterns theory.
Jeffrey L. Hurst, Laura Widman, Anne J. Maheux, Reina Evans-Paulson, Julia Brasileiro, Nikolette P. Lipsey
Abstract
= 15.06; 59% girls; 35% White, 33% Latinx, 25% Black). Controlling for the frequency of parent-child sexual communication and gender, we found the interaction between conversation and conformity orientation was associated with adolescent sexual self-efficacy and intentions to communicate about sex with partners. When families were high on conversation and low on conformity, adolescents had statistically significantly higher sexual self-efficacy than any other family communication patterns. When families were low on conversation and low on conformity, adolescents had statistically significantly lower intentions to communicate with future sex partners than any other family communication pattern. Findings highlight the importance of understanding general communication processes beyond the frequency of parent-child sexual communication. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).