Reproductive health for teens: Parents want in too

Parents or parent figures play an important role in the lives of adolescents. Various studies have examined the influence that types of parenting have on the behaviors of young people including risk-taking behaviors. Parents can have a significant affect on their children’s sexual risk-taking behavior. Many parents and teens, however, have only limited or no communication on the topic.

Methods

This study employed a mixed method including an online teen survey and parents and teens focus groups in western Massachusetts.

Results

Parents believed that sexual education should start at home. Yet many have not done so. Primary barriers identified by parents included the perception that their teens were too young. Parents also expressed feeling uncomfortable and their lack of knowledge of how to communicate about the topic. Supporting factors included a good parent-child relationship and beginning the discussions when their children were young. Teens expressed their desire for parents to be involved in their sexual health education. 85% of the teens (n=220) stated that parents should be the primary source of information about sexual health.

Conclusions

There is a need for interventions aimed at creating a safe place for parents to learn about the stages of their teen’s sexual development. Parents should be provided with tools and strategies to talk to their children about sex.