How sources of sexual information relate to adolescents' beliefs about sex.
OBJECTIVE
To examine how sources of sexual information are associated with adolescents' behavioral, normative, and control beliefs about having sexual intercourse using the integrative model of behavior change.


METHODS
Survey data from a quota sample of 459 youth.


RESULTS
The most frequently reported sources were friends, teachers, mothers, and media. Regression analyses indicated that learning about sex from parents, grandparents, and religious leaders was associated with beliefs likely to delay sex; friends, cousins, and media were associated with beliefs that increase the likelihood of having sexual intercourse.


CONCLUSIONS
Different sexual information sources were associated with different underlying beliefs.
Annenberg Public Policy Center, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. ableakley@asc.upenn.edu
Amy
A
Bleakley
Michael
M
Hennessy
Martin
M
Fishbein
Amy
A
Jordan
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D015143:Philadelphia; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012736:Sex Education; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012925:Social Conformity; D012951:Socialization