Abstract
Parents can play an important role in reducing their children's risk for teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, and in promoting sexual health during adolescence. The purpose of this study was to explore communication between parents, family members and young people and how it influences their romantic and sexual behaviours. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 African American, American Indian, Euro-American and Latina women aged 19–29 years. Findings clustered into five themes. First, mothers were often the primary source of reproductive education. Second, fathers provided valuable guidance, although they were not the first source of information. Third, parental expectations influenced young people's sexual behaviours both positively and negatively. Fourth, aunts, uncles and grandparents were trusted sources of advice for personal discussions. Fifth, over one-third of participants perceived that there was no adult available to them during their teenage years for discussions about romance. Sex educators can encourage and guide parents to discuss romantic and sexual issues with young people as a way to support their young people's healthy sexual and romantic behaviours. Health and sex educators should also identify young people lacking support and encourage stronger relationships with family including fathers and extended family members.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 144-157 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Sex Education |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 4 2015 |
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Keywords
- USA
- family influences
- parents' role
- sex education
- sexual decision-making
- young women
Cite this
Parent and family influences on young women's romantic and sexual decisions. / Wisnieski, Deborah; Sieving, Renee E; Garwick, Ann E.
In: Sex Education, Vol. 15, No. 2, 04.03.2015, p. 144-157.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Parent and family influences on young women's romantic and sexual decisions
AU - Wisnieski, Deborah
AU - Sieving, Renee E
AU - Garwick, Ann E
PY - 2015/3/4
Y1 - 2015/3/4
N2 - Parents can play an important role in reducing their children's risk for teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, and in promoting sexual health during adolescence. The purpose of this study was to explore communication between parents, family members and young people and how it influences their romantic and sexual behaviours. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 African American, American Indian, Euro-American and Latina women aged 19–29 years. Findings clustered into five themes. First, mothers were often the primary source of reproductive education. Second, fathers provided valuable guidance, although they were not the first source of information. Third, parental expectations influenced young people's sexual behaviours both positively and negatively. Fourth, aunts, uncles and grandparents were trusted sources of advice for personal discussions. Fifth, over one-third of participants perceived that there was no adult available to them during their teenage years for discussions about romance. Sex educators can encourage and guide parents to discuss romantic and sexual issues with young people as a way to support their young people's healthy sexual and romantic behaviours. Health and sex educators should also identify young people lacking support and encourage stronger relationships with family including fathers and extended family members.
AB - Parents can play an important role in reducing their children's risk for teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, and in promoting sexual health during adolescence. The purpose of this study was to explore communication between parents, family members and young people and how it influences their romantic and sexual behaviours. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 African American, American Indian, Euro-American and Latina women aged 19–29 years. Findings clustered into five themes. First, mothers were often the primary source of reproductive education. Second, fathers provided valuable guidance, although they were not the first source of information. Third, parental expectations influenced young people's sexual behaviours both positively and negatively. Fourth, aunts, uncles and grandparents were trusted sources of advice for personal discussions. Fifth, over one-third of participants perceived that there was no adult available to them during their teenage years for discussions about romance. Sex educators can encourage and guide parents to discuss romantic and sexual issues with young people as a way to support their young people's healthy sexual and romantic behaviours. Health and sex educators should also identify young people lacking support and encourage stronger relationships with family including fathers and extended family members.
KW - USA
KW - family influences
KW - parents' role
KW - sex education
KW - sexual decision-making
KW - young women
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U2 - 10.1080/14681811.2014.986798
DO - 10.1080/14681811.2014.986798
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84922290759
VL - 15
SP - 144
EP - 157
JO - Sex Education
JF - Sex Education
SN - 1468-1811
IS - 2
ER -