Messages About Abstinence, Delaying Sexual Debut and Sexual Decision-Making in Conversations Between Mothers and Young Adolescents - 20/03/18
Abstract |
Study Objective |
Little is known about the information shared during family discussions about sexuality. From a public health perspective, abstinence is one of the most important sexuality topics parents can talk about with adolescents. We sought to characterize the messages mothers communicate to young adolescents regarding abstinence.
Design |
Content analysis of dyadic discussions that occurred between June 2011-December 2012 between mothers and their 10- to 14-year-old adolescent sons and daughters. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and a grounded theory approach to content analysis performed.
Setting |
Urban city in Western Pennsylvania.
Participants |
Twenty-one dyads; 15 mother-daughter dyads and 6 mother-son dyads.
Interventions |
None.
Main Outcome Measures |
None.
Results |
Four key themes emerged reflecting the high priority mothers placed on abstinence, delaying their adolescent's sexual debut, and nurturing sexual decision-making skills. Theme 1 focused on ensuring that adolescents understand what abstinence means. In defining abstinence, only 1 mother explained what sex is. The 3 remaining themes emphasized sexual decision-making and emphasized when it is acceptable to stop being abstinent (theme 2), why abstinence is important (theme 3), and mothers' desire to engage in ongoing discussions, particularly when an adolescent was considering becoming sexually active (theme 4). Messages did not vary according to mothers' age or according to adolescent age, gender, or race.
Conclusion |
Mothers convey complex information about abstinence and sexual decision-making to young, non-sexually active adolescents. Message tailoring on the basis of the adolescents’ age or sex was not observed.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key Words : At-risk/high-risk populations, Communication, Content analysis, Dyadic relationships, Sexual behavior
Plan
| Dr Akers (senior author and study PI) has research support from: Bayer Healthcare, for an investigator-initiated clinical trial. This investigator trial was not funded or operational during the time that the data presented in our submitted manuscript were being collected or analyzed; and from the Society of Family Planning, for an investigator-initiated research study. She is also an advisor to Merck on their Human Papilloma Virus Advisory Board (received $0 in 2016 and 3,075 in 2017) and is on the HPV advisory board for the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (received $2500 in 2016). The remaining authors indicate no conflicts of interest. |
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| Kanika Ramchandani was a research assistant who assisted in analyzing the data for this study. She is now a second-year medical student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. |
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| Penelope Morrison was a postdoctoral fellow in medical anthropology who assisted in collecting and analyzing the data for this study. She is now an Assistant Professor of Biobehavioral Health at Pennsylvania State New Kensington. |
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| Melanie A. Gold is a pediatrician with subspecialty training in adolescent medicine who assisted with the study design, data collection, and analysis of the data. |
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| Aletha Y. Akers is an obstetrician-gynecologist and health services researcher with clinical expertise in pediatric and adolescents gynecology. She directs a research group that examined the quality of reproductive services for adolescent and young adult women and develops interventions to improve reproductive outcomes in this population. |
Vol 31 - N° 2
P. 107-115 - avril 2018 Retour au numéro
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