A Longitudinal Assessment of Adolescents' Sexual Communication with Parents, Best Friends, and Dating Partners

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  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.apa.org
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      15
    • Sponsoring Agency:
      National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)
    • Contract Number:
      1R01HD055342
      K99/R00HD075654
    • Education Level:
      Junior High Schools
      Middle Schools
      Secondary Education
      High Schools
    • Subject Terms:
      Middle School Students; High School Students; Sexuality; Parents; Peer Relationship; Friendship; Dating (Social); Communication (Thought Transfer); Time; Time Perspective; Sex; Race; Ethnicity; Sexual Orientation
    • Accession Number:
      10.1037/dev0001556
    • ISSN:
      0012-1649
      1939-0599
    • Abstract:
      Sexual health communication in adolescence is important for sexual well-being. With limited empirical work utilizing longitudinal methodologies, this study aimed to investigate how the frequency of sexual communication with parents, peers, and dating partners changes across adolescence and varies based on sex, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Participants included 886 U.S. adolescents (54.4% females; 45.9% White, 22.6% Hispanic/Latinx, 21.6% Black/African American) surveyed yearly from middle school through 12th grade. Growth curve models were used to estimate trajectories of the frequency in communication. Results showed curvilinear trajectories for adolescents' sexual communication with their parents, best friends, and dating partners over time. Although all three trajectories showed curvilinear patterns, sexual communication with parents and best friends increased earlier in adolescence and leveled off, while sexual communication with dating partners was lower in early adolescence and showed a steep increase across adolescence. Communication trajectories significantly diverged depending on adolescents' sex and race/ethnicity but not their sexual orientation. This study provides the first evidence of developmental changes over time in adolescent sexual communication with parents, best friends, and dating partners. Developmental implications for adolescents' sexual decision making are discussed.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Publication Date:
      2023
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1384868