title: Youth-parent communication and youth sexual behavior: implications for physicians.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, 73104, USA. cheryl-aspy@ouhsc.edu
authors.forename: Cheryl B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Aspy
authors.forename: Sara K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Vesely
authors.forename: Roy F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Oman
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodine
authors.forename: LaDonna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Janene
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fluhr
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McLeroy
mesh_terms: 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