Effects of parenting style and message type about sex on risky sexual behaviors of adolescents

Abstract

Parent-adolescent communication about sex is an important issue given that adolescents are susceptible to risky sexual behaviors (CDC, 2011). This study examined how parenting styles and the nature of parents' conversations about sex with their adolescents impact their adolescents' sexual activity. The results showed relationships between parenting style, type of communication about sex, psychological reactance, and risky sexual behaviors of adolescents. Specifically, authoritarian mothers use controlling communication, which was associated with higher psychological reactance. Higher psychological reactance was associated with risky sexual behaviors. Fathers' authoritative parenting style was associated with supportive communication and lower psychological reactance. Lower psychological reactance was correlated with less risky sexual behaviors of adolescents. This study extends the parenting style literature by demonstrating that the nature of parent-adolescent communication about sex has an impact on adolescents' psychological reactance, which can indirectly affect the risky sexual behaviors of adolescents.