The Situation of Perceived Parent-Child Communication About Sexuality and its Relationship With Adolescents' Sexual Behavior
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2007-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study was conducted on 365 high school students in the age range
15-19 (mean age= 16.73) SD= 1.20) to investigate the situation of parentchild
sexual communication and its relationship with adolescents) sexual
behavior. A 20 item parent-child communication scale was administered
to collect data on father-child and mother-child communication
separately. To obtain data on adolescents ) sexual behavior) a seven item
close-ended questionnaire was employed. Interview was also held with
five students to get supplementary information. The data obtained on
parent-child communication showed a medium level of communication.
There was significant difference observed between mothers and fathers
in communicating about sexuality with their children. Mothers were
found to communicate more frequently than were fathers. Sex difference
was also observed among adolescents. Females reported significantly
more frequent communication with their mothers than did boys. Parents)
education was positively associated with parent-child sexual
communication. Significant negative correlation was found between
perceived parent-child communication and sexual behavior of
adolescents. Better communication was significantly associated with
lower sexual risk behavior. Implications of parent-child sexual
communications for adolescents ) healthy sexual behavior are discussed
Description
Keywords
Sexuality ; Its; Relationship