Parent-child communication: influences of maternal sexual experiences as a teenager on the occurrence of sexuality communication with their adolescent
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Abstract
This study investigated factors that influence parent-child communication on sexual topics and sought to determine if maternal teenage sexual experiences influence mothers' discussions with their adolescent children. Randomly selected mothers of children ages 10-14 years were mailed questionnaires. Using a list of sexual topics, respondents reported the frequency of discussions with their adolescent and completed a checklist of their own teenage sexual experiences. Correlational research design was used to rank and list sexual topics by frequency. Although a majority of the respondents reported that their own teenage sexual experiences influenced the discussions they had with their adolescents, no statistically significant association was found regarding those experiences and the amount of discussion mothers had with their child. The most frequently discussed topics were dating/relationships and homosexuality. The majority of respondents reported their first sexual intercourse at age 19 or younger, use of birth control, and participation in oral sex as teenagers.