title: "Do you want somebody treating your sister like that?": qualitative exploration of how African American families discuss and promote healthy teen dating relationships.
abstract: The article discusses a study conducted between December 2007 and March 2008 that involved 19 gender-stratified focus groups with African American parents and adolescents from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, to explore the process and content of parent-adolescent communication about sex. Discussions about intimate partner violence (IPV) and healthy relationships emerge inductively as critical topics in these conversations. The authors use a grounded theory approach to content analysis to identify and organize themes related to discussions on these topics. A total of 125 participants from 52 families are recruited for the study. Family history of child sexual abuse often motivates discussions. Mothers are described as the primary parent discussing sexual issues with children. Fathers primarily role model ideal male partnership behavior for sons and daughters. Parents seek to prevent daughters from experiencing sexual abuse or emotional manipulation by partners and focus on instilling a sense of responsibility to and respect for romantic partners in sons. Parents prioritize and express the need for tools to influence their adolescent's socialization as romantic partners. Mothers and fathers approach this process differently. Family-focused interventions to prevent unhealthy relationships can build on parent's efforts.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Specialties,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Hospital,300 Halket Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. aakers@mail.magee.edu
authors.forename: Aletha Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Akers
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yonas
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Judy C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D003380:Courtship / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D010414:Pennsylvania; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000517:prevention & control; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult