Mother's and father's perspectives on talking to teens about healthy relationships

BACKGROUND: Literature on parent-adolescent communication about sex focuses on pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections prevention. Few studies explore family communication about healthy relationships. OBJECTIVES: To examine how parents discuss healthy relationships, sexual abuse and intimate partner violence. METHODS: Between December 2007 and March 2008, we conducted 10 gender stratified focus groups with African American parents from Allegheny County Pennsylvania. Groups examined the process and content of parent-adolescent communication about sex. We used a grounded theory approach to content analysis. Themes related to healthy relationships, sexual abuse and intimate partner violence arose inductively. RESULTS: Fifty-three families (53 mothers, 17 fathers) participated. A family history of child sexual abuse, often mother's personal experiences with violence, motivated discussions. Mothers primarily talk with their children while fathers role model appropriate behaviour with females for their sons and try to relate a sense of security and love to their daughters. Fathers hope this will prevent daughters from seeking emotional support from men outside the home. Parents expressed different concerns about sons versus daughter's sexual development. Parents want to prevent daughters from experiencing sexual abuse or emotional manipulation. Parents worry about daughters maintaining a sense of empowerment, self-esteem, and self respect in romantic relationships. Regarding sons, parents focused on instilling a sense of responsibility to and respect for romantic partners. CONCLUSIONS: Parents prioritized and expressed the need for tools to influence their children's socialization as romantic partners. Mothers and fathers approach this process differently. Family focused interventions to prevent unhealthy relationships can build on parent's efforts.