title: Sexual cognitive predictors of sexual communication in junior college adolescents: medical student perspectives.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Further understanding the relationship between sexual cognition and sexual communication in adolescents may facilitate sexual health promotion in this population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to investigate associations between sexual cognitive variables and sexual communication in adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used a cross-sectional research design with conventional sampling. Data were collected from one medical college in central Taiwan. A total of 900 questionnaires were dispatched, with 748 copies returned, giving a response rate of 83.1%. Structural questionnaires were designed to collect demographic data, sexual self-concept inventory, sexual risk cognition, sexual self-efficacy, and sexual communication scale. This study applied statistical methods, including descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation, and multiple regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Major findings revealed that (a) adolescents talked about sexual activity and sexual issues with their parents at a moderate level (mean = 2.52, SD = 1.24), (b) all sexual cognitive variables (sexual self-concept, sexual risk cognitions, and sexual self-efficacy) correlated positively with sexual communication, and (c) predictors of sexual communication were supported by demographic data (having heterosexual friends, satisfaction with heterosexual friends, and duration of relationships with heterosexual friends) and sexual cognitive variables, which accounted for 62.0% of variance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Study results can contribute to the development of safe sexual health programs and improve healthcare provider knowledge of sexual communication among adolescents. More sexual communication between adolescents and their parents is encouraged. Moreover, sexual health programs must give increased focus on the issue of adolescent sexual cognition to help encourage increased discussion between adolescents and their parents regarding sexual activity and issues.
authors.affiliation: Center for General Education, Hsin Sheng College of Medicine Care and Management.
authors.forename: Jiunn-Horng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Sheng-Hwang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hsing-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yen-Chin
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ren-Hau
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019529:Sexuality; D013333:Student Health Services; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D013624:Taiwan