Youth-parent communication and youth sexual behavior: implications for physicians.
OBJECTIVE
This study explores youth and parent agreement about conversations on specific topics related to sexual risk behavior and youth-parent relationship. The study's objective was to determine if the amount of agreement was associated with youth sexual behavior.


METHODS
Data were collected using a computer-assisted data entry system from one parent and one youth in 1,350 randomly selected households in inner-city areas of two Midwestern cities.


RESULTS
Youth-parent positive agreement scores about these conversations were significant after controlling for youth age, race, gender, family structure, and parental income and education. Scores were associated with youth abstinence and with the use of contraception if the youth had become sexually active.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, youth-parent agreement regarding their communication was associated with positive youth behaviors, including abstinence and the use of contraception if sexually active.
Aspy
Cheryl B
CB
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, 73104, USA. cheryl-aspy@ouhsc.edu
Vesely
Sara K
SK
Oman
Roy F
RF
Rodine
Sharon
S
Marshall
LaDonna
L
Fluhr
Janene
J
McLeroy
Ken
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003142:Communication; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014505:Urban Population