Parental involvement, depression, and sexual experiences across adolescence: a cross-sectional survey among adolescents of different ages

Figures & data

Table 1. Proportions (% (n/N)) of those having experienced sexual intercourse among adolescents with high, average, and low parental involvement.

	High parental involvement	Average parental involvement	Low parental involvement	p-Value
Age (years)	Girls
14	6.8 ( 378/5530)	12.6 (861/6834)	26.0 (708/2720)	<.001
15	16.2 (1375/8511)	23.7 (2613/11016)	38.3 (1678/4383)	<.001
16	34.2 (2884/8435)	40.4 (4019/9938)	50.8 (2012/3960)	<.001
17	50.5 (4092/8107)	55.9 (4840/8657)	63.4 (2064/3256)	<.001
18	63.8 (2056/3225)	64.2 (2196/3423)	69.6 (960/1379)	<.001
19–20	78.2 (583/746)	79.8 (863/1082)	83.4 (456/547)	.064
all	32.9 (11368/34554)	37.6 (15392/40950)	48.5 (7878/16245)	<.001
Age (years)	Boys
14	8.2 (462/5625)	13.3 (830/6226)	25.4 (576/2266)	<.001
15	16.2 (1379/8524)	21.6 (2242/10384)	32.8 (1406/4287)	<.001
16	31.1 (2496/8021)	35.3 (3431/9715)	43.1 (1712/3971)	<.001
17	44.6 (3375/7574)	47.9 (4163/8188)	53.6 (1972/3683)	<.001
18	53.9 (1640/3041)	58.5 (2126/3616)	63.4 (1089/1719)	<.001
19–20	66.8 (270/404)	73.8 (484/656)	73.2 (300/410)	.038
all	29.0 (9622/33189)	33.8 (13276/39285)	43.2 (7055/16335)	<.001

Note: Statistically significant differences are shown in bold.

Table 2. Proportions (% (n/N)) of those having had five or more sexual partners among sexually active adolescents with high, average, and low parental involvement.

	High parental involvement	Average parental involvement	Low parental involvement	p-Value
Girls
Age (years)
14	6.4 (24/373)	7.4 (63/856)	12.5 (88/702)	<.001
15	5.1 (69/1365)	7.6 (197/2592)	12.5 (208/1669)	<.001
16	9.9 (285/2879)	11.4 (456/4006)	16.2 (325/2004)	<.001
17	14.3 (585/4086)	15.6 (751/4283)	22.0 (451/2052)	<.001
18	17.6 (362/2051)	21.4 (468/2190)	27.6 (263/954)	<.001
19–20	31.5 (183/581)	33.9 (292/861)	42.1 (191/454)	<.001
all	13.3 (1508/11335)	14.5 (2227/15328)	19.5 (1526/7835)	<.001
Boys
Age (years)
14	13.9 (62/445)	19.1 (154/806)	31.7 (178/562)	<.001
15	12.9 (176/1360)	12.6 (277/2194)	24.0 (334/1389)	<.001
16	12.8 (318/2477)	12.3 (419 / 3407)	19.9 (336/1690)	<.001
17	14.5 (487/3362)	13.0 (537/4141)	20.3 (397/1954)	<.001
18	18.1 (295/1633)	18.3 (387/2110)	25.9 (281/1083)	<.001
19–20	29.6 (80/270)	32.6 (157/481)	42.4 (126/197)	.003
all	14.9 (1418/9547)	14.7 (1931/13139)	23.7 (1652/6975)	<.001

Note: Statistically significant differences are shown in bold.

Table 3. ORs (95% CI) for having experienced sexual intercourse according to self-reported depression (yes vs. no) and parental involvement (average vs. high, low vs. high), stratified for age groups.

		Girls	Boys		Girls	Boys
	14				Sociodemographics controlled for
Crude	Depression	2.7 (2.4–3.0)**	4.7 (4.1–5.4)**
	Average involvement	2.0 (1.7–2.2)**	1.7 (1.5–1.9)**
	Low involvement	4.8 (4.2–5.5)**	3.8 (3.3–4.4)**
M1	Depression	1.9 (1.7–2.1)**	3.6 (3.1–4.1)**	M2	1.8 (1.6–2.1)**	3.4 (2.9–4.0)**
	Average involvement	1.8 (1.6–2.0)**	1.6 (1.4–1.8)**		1.7 (1.5–2.0)**	1.5 (1.3–1.7)**
	Low involvement	3.8 (3.3–4.4)**	2.9 (2.5–3.4)**		3.3 (2.8–3.9)**	2.6 (2.2–3.0)**
	15
Crude	Depression	2.0 (1.9–2.2)**	2.6 (2.3–2.8)**
	Average involvement	1.6 (1.5–1.7)**	1.4 (1.3–1.5)**
	Low involvement	3.2 (3.0–3.5)**	2.5 (2.3–2.8)**
M1	Depression	1.6 (1.5–1.7)**	2.3 (1.8–2.3)**	M2	1.5 (1.4–1.6)**	1.9 (1.7–2.1)**
	Average involvement	1.5 (1.4–1.6)**	1.4 (1.3–1.5)**		1.5 (1.4–1.6)**	1.3 (1.2–1.4)**
	Low involvement	2.8 (2.5–3.0)**	2.2 (2.0–2.4)**		2.4 (2.2–2.6)**	2.0 (1.8–2.2)**
	16
Crude	Depression	1.5 (1.4–1.6)**	1.6 (1.4–1.8)**
	Average involvement	1.3 (1.2–1.4)**	1.2 (1.1–1.3)**
	Low involvement	2.0 (1.8–2.1)**	1.7 (1.6–1.8)**
M1	Depression	1.3 (1.2–1.4)**	1.4 (1.3–1.6)**	M2	1.2 (1.1–1.3)**	1.3 (1.2–1.5)**
	Average involvement	1.3 (1.2–1.4)**	1.2 (1.1–1.3)**		1.2 (1.2–1.3)**	1.2 (1.1–1.2)*
	Low involvement	1.9 (1.7–2.0)**	1.6 (1.5–1.7)**		1.7 (1.6–1.8)**	1.5 (1.4–1.6)**
	17
Crude	Depression	1.1 (1.1–1.2)**	1.1 (1.0–1.2)
	Average involvement	1.2 (1.2–1.3)**	1.1 (1.1–1.2)**
	Low involvement	1.7 (1.6–1.8)**	1.4 (1.3–1.6)**
M1	Depression	1.0 (0.9–1.1)	1.0 (0.9–1.1)	M2	1.0 (0.9–1.1)	0.9 (0.8–1.0)
	Average involvement	1.2 (1.2–1.3)**	1.1 (1.1–1.2)**		1.2 (1.1–1.3)**	1.0 (1.0–1.2)
	Low involvement	1.7 (1.6–1.8)**	1.4 (1.3–1.6)**		1.5 (1.4–1.7)**	1.3 (1.2–1.5)**
	18
Crude	Depression	1.0 (0.9–1.1)	1.1 (0.9–1.3)
	Average involvement	1.0 (0.9–1.1)	1.2 (1.1–1.3)**
	Low involvement	1.3 (1.1–1.5)**	1.5 (1.3–1.7)**
M1	Depression	0.9 (0.8–1.1)	1.0 (0.9–1.2)	M2	0.9 (0.8–1.0)	1.0 (0.8–1.1)
	Average involvement	1.0 (0.9–1.1)	1.2 (1.1–1.3)**		1.0 (0.9–1.1)	1.2 (1.1–1.3)*
	Low involvement	1.3 (1.2–1.5)**	1.5 (1.3–1.7)**		1.1 (1.0–1.3)	1.3 (1.1–1.5)**
	19–20
Crude	Depression	0.9 (0.7–1.1)	0.8 (0.6–1.1)
	Average involvement	1.1 (0.9–1.4)	1.4 (1.1–1.8)
	Low involvement	1.4 (1.1–1.9)	1.4 (1.0–1.8)
M1	Depression	0.8 (0.6–1.0)	0.7 (0.5–1.0)	M2	0.8 (0.7–1.0)	0.7 (0.5–1.0)
	Average involvement	1.1 (0.9–1.4)	1.4 (1.1–1.9)*		1.1 (0.9–1.4)	1.3 (1.0–1.8)
	Low involvement	1.5 (1.1–2.0)*	1.5 (1.1–2.0)		1.3 (1.0–1.8)	1.3 (0.9–1.9)
	All
Crude	Depression	1.4 (1.3–1.4)**	1.7 (1.7–1.8)**
	Average involvement	1.2 (1.2–1.3)**	1.3 (1.2–1.3)**
	Low involvement	1.9 (1.8–2.0)**	1.9 (1.8–1.9)**
M1	Depression	1.2 (1.1–1.2)**	1.5 (1.4–1.6)**	M2	1.1 (1.1–1.2)*	1.4 (1.3–1.5)*
	Average involvement	1.2 (1.2–1.2)**	1.2 (1.2–1.3)**		1.2 (1.1–1.2)*	1.2 (1.1–1.2)*
	Low involvement	1.8 (1.8–1.9)**	1.7 (1.7–1.8)**		1.6 (1.5–1.7)*	1.6 (1.5–1.6)*

Note: First, crude ORs are given. In Model 1 (M1), depression and parental involvement are entered as independent variables, and in Model 2 (M2), sociodemographic variables are adjusted for.

**ORs statistically significant at level p < .001.

*At level .01 < p < .001.

Table 4. OR (95% CI) for having had five or more sexual partners according to self-reported depression (yes vs. not) and parental involvement (average vs. high, low vs. high) among those sexually active, stratified for age groups.

		Girls	Boys		Girls	Boys
	14				Sociodemographics controlled for
Crude	Depression	2.1 (1.5–2.9)*	3.4 (2.6–4.3)**
	Average involvement	1.1 (0.7–1.8)	1.5 (1.1–2.0)*
	Low involvement	2.1 (1.3–3.3)	2.9 (2.1–4.0)**
M1	Depression	1.8 (1.3–2.5)**	2.8 (2.2–3.7)**	M2	1.9 (1.3–2.7)**	2.7 (2.0–3.6)**
	Average involvement	1.0 (0.6–1.7)	1.4 (1.0–1.9)		1.1 (0.6–1.8)	1.3 (0.9–1.8)
	Low involvement	1.7 (1.0–2.7)	2.1 (1.5–2.9)**		1.5 (0.9–2.5)	2.0 (1.4–2.8)**
	15
Crude	Depression	2.5 (2.1–3.0)**	4.1 (3.5–4.9)**
	Average involvement	1.5 (1.2–2.0)*	1.0 (0.8–1.2)
	Low involvement	2.7 (2.0–3.5)**	2.1 (1.7–2.6)**
M1	Depression	2.2 (1.8–2.7)**	3.6 (3.0–4.4)**	M2	2.1 (1.7–2.6)**	3.6 (3.0–4.4)**
	Average involvement	1.4 (1.1–1.9)*	0.9 (0.7–1.1)		1.4 (1.0–1.8)**	0.9 (0.7–1.1)
	Low involvement	2.1 (1.5–2.8)**	1.5 (1.2–1.9)**		1.8 (1.3–2.5)**	1.5 (1.2–1.9)**
	16
Crude	Depression	1.8 (1.5–2.1)**	3.6 (3.1–4.3)**
	Average involvement	1.2 (1.0–1.4)	1.0 (0.8–1.1)
	Low involvement	1.8 (1.5–2.1)**	1.7 (1.4–2.0)**
M1	Depression	1.6 (1.4–1.9)**	3.3 (2.7–3.9)**	M2	1.5 (1.3–1.8)**	3.1 (2.5–3.7)**
	Average involvement	1.1 (0.9–1.3)	0.9 (0.7–1.1)		1.1 (0.9–1.3)	0.8 (0.7–1.0)
	Low involvement	1.5 (1.3–1.8)**	1.3 (1.1–1.5)*		1.4 (1.2–1.7)**	1.2 (1.0–1.4)
	17
Crude	Depression	1.8 (1.6–2.1)	2.4 (2.1–2.9)**
	Average involvement	1.1 (1.0–1.2)	0.9 (0.8–1.0)
	Low involvement	1.7 (1.5–1.9)	1.5 (1.3–1.7)**
M1	Depression	1.7 (1.5–1.9)**	2.2 (1.9–2.8)**	M2	1.6 (1.4–1.9)**	2.1 (1.8–2.6)**
	Average involvement	1.1 (0.9–1.2)	0.9 (0.7–1.0)		1.0 (0.9–1.1)	0.8 (0.7–1.0)
	Low involvement	1.5 (1.3–1.7)**	1.3 (1.1–1.5)**		1.4 (1.2–1.6)**	1.2 (1.0–1.4)
	18
Crude	Depression	1.8 (1.6–2.2)**	1.7 (1.4–2.2)**
	Average involvement	1.3 (1.1–1.5)*	1.0 (0.9–1.2)
	Low involvement	1.8 (1.5–2.1)**	1.6 (1.3–1.9)**
M1	Depression	1.7 (1.4–2.0)**	1.5 (1.2–1.9)**	M2	1.7 (1.4–2.0)**	1.4 (1.1–1.8)
	Average involvement	1.2 (1.0–1.4)	1.0 (0.8–1.2)		1.2 (1.0–1.3)	1.0 (0.8–1.2)
	Low involvement	1.6 (1.3–1.9)**	1.5 (1.2–1.8)**		1.4 (1.2–1.7)*	1.4 (1.1–1.7)*
	19–20
Crude	Depression	1.7 (1.3–2.1)**	2.2 (1.6–3.2)**
	Average involvement	1.1 (0.9–1.4)	1.2 (0.8–1.5)
	Low involvement	1.6 (1.2–2.0)**	1.8 (1.2–2.5)*
M1	Depression	1.5 (1.2–2.0)**	2.0 (1.4–2.9)**	M2	1.1 (1.2–2.1)**	2.0 (1.4–3.0)
	Average involvement	1.1 (0.9–1.4)	1.1 (0.8–1.5)		1.1 (0.8–1.4)	1.0 (0.7–1.4)
	Low involvement	1.4 (1.1–1.9)*	1.5 (1.1–2.2)		1.4 (1.0–1.8)	2.0 (1.4–3.0)**
	All
Crude	Depression	1.6 (1.5–1.8)**	3.0 (2.7–3.2)**
	Average involvement	1.1 (1.0–1.2)	1.0 (0.9–1.1)
	Low involvement	1.5 (1.5–1.7)**	1.8 (1.6–1.9)**
M1	Depression	1.5 (1.4–1.6)**	2.6 (2.4–2.9)**	M2	1.5 (1.4–1.6)**	2.5 (2.3–2.8)**
	Average involvement	1.1 (1.0–1.1)	0.9 (0.9–1.)		1.0 (1.0–1.1)	0.9 (0.8–1.0)
	Low involvement	1.4 (1.3–1.5)**	1.4 (1.3–1.6)**		1.3 (1.2–1.4)**	1.3 (1.2–1.5)**

Note: First, crude ORs are given. In Model 1 (M1), depression and parental involvement are entered as independent variables, and in Model 2 (M2), sociodemographic variables are adjusted for.

**ORs statistically significant at level p < .001.

*At level .01 < p < .001.