Longitudinal Effects of Parental Sexual Communication on Adolescent Oral Sex Initiation: An Exploratoin of Gender Differences

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Date

2014-06

Authors

Ferry, Shannon Elizabeth

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Oregon

Abstract

Although the influence of parental sexual communication on adolescent initiation of vaginal intercourse has been well-documented, this relationship has not yet been examined in the case of early oral sexual initiation. The current study used data from 329 community adolescents (52% female; mean age=14.4 years) to assess associations between early oral sexual initiation and frequency of parental communication about (a) sexual topics and (b) relationships with the opposite sex. Gender differences in these associations were also explored. Overall results from bivariate analyses found a modest correlation between parental sexual communication at baseline and initiation of oral sex at one year follow-up. Results further revealed that parental communication about sexual topics was negatively associated with oral sexual initiation for females, but was positively associated for males. Parental communication about relationships was negatively associated with oral sexual initiation for males, but was positively associated for females. The findings are discussed in regard to their implications for preventing early oral sexual initiation among male and female adolescents.

Description

21 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Counseling Psychology and Human Services and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Science, Spring 2014.

Keywords

Adolescent sexuality, Parental communication, Oral sex, Sexual initiation, Risky sexual behavior, Adolescent behavior, Longitudinal

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