High School Adolescents' Perceptions of the Parent–Child Sex Talk: How Communication, Relational, and Family Factors Relate to Sexual Health

Abstract

This research focuses on how high school adolescents' (n = 159) perceptions of parent–adolescent communication about sex, including communication frequency, parent–child closeness, parents' communication competence and effectiveness, as well as the larger family environment relates to sexual risk-taking and permissive sexual attitudes. Findings show that perceived parental communication competence and effectiveness were the strongest negative predictors of adolescents' permissive sexual attitudes and sexual risk-taking, whereas peer communication frequency was a significant positive predictor. In contrast with previous research, adolescents' perception of parent communication frequency and family communication climate (e.g., conversation orientation and conformity orientation) was unrelated to adolescents' sexual risk.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank all the high school principals, teachers, counselors, and students who were gracious with their time and resources.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amanda Holman

Amanda Holman, Department of Communication Studies, Creighton University.

Jody Koenig Kellas

Jody Koenig Kellas, Department of Communication Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln.