Gender Differences in Parents' Communication With Their Adolescent Children about Sexual Risk and Sex-Positive Topics

J Sex Res. 2020 Feb;57(2):177-188. doi: 10.1080/00224499.2019.1661345. Epub 2019 Sep 13.

Abstract

A healthy sexual self-concept that captures an understanding of the risky and the positive aspects of sexuality is imperative to life-long well-being. Parents have a unique opportunity to instill knowledge of sexual risk as well as confidence and comfort around sexuality in their adolescents. Although parent-child communication about sexual risk is fairly common, less is known regarding the frequency of parent-child communication about sex-positive topics, such as sexual desire and satisfaction. This study examined the frequency of parents' communication with their children about sexual risk and sex-positive topics among a sample of 901 parents of 13-17-year-old adolescents (parent Mage= 40.61; 71% mothers) from across the U.S. Parents reported on sexual communication with their adolescent children (child Mage = 14.68; 50% daughters). We examined gender differences in communication patterns. Few parents communicated with their adolescents about sex-positive topics. Only 38% discussed sexual satisfaction, 38% discussed different types of sexual practices (e.g., oral sex), and 55% discussed sexual desire. Parents communicate more about sexual risk than sex-positive topics with their adolescents and this discrepancy was largest for mothers of daughters. Fathers of daughters communicate the least about sex-positive topics. Implications for intervention development and future research on sexual communication are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parent-Child Relations*
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Sex Education / statistics & numerical data*
  • Sexual Behavior / statistics & numerical data*
  • Sexual Health / statistics & numerical data*
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / prevention & control