Parenting Practices and Adolescent Sexual Behavior: A Longitudinal Study

TLDR

The study examined how parental attitudes, practices, and television mediation influence adolescent sexual behaviors in a sample of 887 youths. Greater parental disapproval and limits on viewing reduced initiation of oral and vaginal sex, while increased sexual communication increased initiation and coviewing was associated with reduced initiation, indicating that parental attitudes and television mediation can delay risky adolescent sexual behaviors.

Abstract

The effects of parental attitudes, practices, and television mediation on adolescent sexual behaviors were investigated in a study of adolescent sexuality and media ( N = 887). Confirmatory factor analyses supported an eight‐factor parenting model with television mediation factors as constructs distinct from general parenting practices. Logistic regressions indicated that adolescents reporting greater parental disapproval and limits on viewing at Wave 1 were less likely to initiate oral sex between Waves 1 and 2. Adolescents who reported more sexual communication with parents were more likely to initiate oral sex. Results for vaginal intercourse were similar to those for oral sex. Coviewing was a significant negative predictor of initiation of sexual behavior. Parental attitudes and television mediation can delay potentially risky adolescent sexual behaviors.