Sexual Communication

Communication between parents and children about matters related to sex has received considerable attention by social scientists, program planners, and policy analysts alike. Most of the empirical literature on this topic has focused on the adolescent years, as children approach puberty and transition to young adulthood. Although there have been some cross cultural studies, the vast majority of research has focused on communication dynamics within the United States.

Some scientists study parent-adolescent communication as a means of developing family based interventions for combating unintended pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Such interventions teach parents how to communicate with their children about sex and help parents acquire information and skills that make them more effective at helping their adolescent avoid adverse sexual outcomes. Other scientists study parent-child communication from the broader perspective of sexual socialization. As parents guide their children towards independent and healthy adult lives, helping their child understand his or her sexuality and adopting perspectives that lead to healthy sexual attitudes and orientations later in life are of prime importance. Sexual socialization is an important developmental process that encompasses research on parent-adolescent communication.