Year: 2019
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Engagement in protective sexual behaviors, including condom use, STI/STD testing, and communication with a sexual partner, are important for preventing an unplanned pregnancy and acquiring a sexually transmitted infection or disease. Prior research suggests that parent-teen communication about sex is associated with engagement in protective sexual behaviors. In addition, research suggests that body image is related to protective sexual behaviors. Therefore, the proposed study examined relations between frequency of parent-teen communication about sex, accepting versus restrictive messages about sex, and protective sexual behaviors in a sample of 350 women (M age = 21.17, SD = 2.34). In addition, body perceptions (i.e., positive body image, self-objectification) were examined as mediators of these relations. Results demonstrated that accepting and restricting parental messages about sex are related to STI/STD testing and health protective sexual communication with a partner among heterosexual, emerging adult women. Prior research, theory, and preliminary and SEM analyses of this study indicate that parental messages about sex are important factors in heterosexual, emerging adult women’s protective sexual behaviors.
Author: Amanda Hood
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3011369575