title: Communication About Sexually-Related Topics Among Hispanic Substance-Abusing Adolescents and Their Parents.
abstract: Hispanic adolescents have been shown to have high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, and substance abuse has been linked to risky sexual behaviors. The literature indicates that good parent-adolescent communication about sexual risk and safe sexual behaviors may help protect youth, yet little is known about this type of communication in Hispanic families. This article reports data on adolescent and parent factors associated with communication about moral and birth control talk between 108 Hispanic substance abusing adolescents and their parents. Results indicate that Hispanic parents who had older adolescents, reported more involvement, were less concerned of possible negative reactions from their child, and felt more knowledgeable and confident regarding sex and birth control also reported greater frequency of birth control talk. Hispanic parents with a daughter, who reported more involvement, or whose child reported more communication were more likely to report greater frequency of talking about moral issues.
authors.affiliation: Research assistant professor in the School of Nursing and Health Studies at the University of Miami.
authors.forename: Maite P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mena
authors.affiliation: Visiting research associate professor and scientific director of the Center for Research on U.S. Latinos HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse at the Florida International University.
authors.forename: Frank R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Dillon
authors.affiliation: Associate professor of education and applied quantitative methods at the University of Maine.
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.affiliation: Research professor in the School of Nursing and Health Studies at the University of Miami.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Santisteban