Barriers and facilitators to maternal communication with preadolescents about age-relevant sexual topics.
The present study examined factors that promote parent-child discussions about sex topics. A sample of 1,066 dyads of African American mothers and their 9-12-year-old children participated completing computer-administered surveys. After controlling for all other covariates, mother's sexual communication responsiveness (i.e., knowledge, comfort, skills, and confidence) was the most consistent predictor of discussions. Mothers with higher responsiveness had significantly increased odds of discussions about abstinence, puberty, and reproduction, based on both mother and child reports. In addition, child's age, pubertal development, readiness to learn about sex, and being female were positively associated with an increase in the odds of discussions in most models. Findings indicate that encouraging parents to talk with their children early may not be sufficient to promote parent-child sex discussions. Parents also need the knowledge, comfort, skills, and confidence to communicate effectively and keep them from avoiding these often difficult and emotional conversations with their children.
Miller
Kim S
KS
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mail Stop E-45, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. kmiller@cdc.gov
Fasula
Amy M
AM
Dittus
Patricia
P
Wiegand
Ryan E
RE
Wyckoff
Sarah C
SC
McNair
Lily
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D012723:Sex; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult