Bullying Victimization and STIs: Parental Communication and Parental Sexual Communication as Moderators

Purpose: Informed by attachment theory, the current study explores whether the association between bullying victimization and STIs acquisition among African American youth is moderated by general parental communication or parental communication about sex. Method: Data were collected from 546 African American adolescents in four neighborhoods in Chicago’s South Side. Univariate analyses, Spearman’s rank-order correlation analyses, and hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: A positive association between bullying victimization and STIs acquisition was found. General parental communication did not moderate the association between bullying victimization and STIs acquisition. However, parental communication about sex did moderate the association between bullying victimization and youth STIs acquisition. Discussion: The study has important implications for developing interventions to address the adverse consequences of bully victimization that emphasize parental communication about sex as a major component.

A Relational Turbulence Model of Sexual Communication in Couples With Depression

Couples coping with depression are prone to unique and pervasive sexual intimacy challenges and experience troubles communicating effectively. Successful sexual communication improves sexual and relationship satisfaction, making communication particularly important for couples facing sexual difficulties. In this study, the relational turbulence model serves as a framework to examine associations between sexual communication and both sexual and relationship satisfaction in couples ( N = 106) in which one or both partners live with depression. Results of a cross-sectional survey suggest sexual communication mediates relationships between both relational uncertainty and interference from a partner with sexual/relationship satisfaction. Results illuminate functions of communication about sex as couples navigate sexual and relational effects of depression.

Evaluation of effectiveness of a sexuality education program for parents of male adolescents: promoting of parent–adolescent sexual communication

ObjectivesParents play a significant role in promoting of healthy sexuality in adolescents. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of a sexuality education intervention program to enhance parent–adolescent sexual communication.MethodsThis study was a randomized controlled field trial. Parents of male adolescent aged 13–16 years were recruited from eight public all-boys high schools in Karaj, Iran. A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used and 102 parents were assigned into intervention and control groups. The recruitment and data collection process lasted from February to November 2019. Self-report demographic questionnaire and six general parenting and parent–adolescent sexual communication measures were used to assess the impact of intervention. Sexuality education program was presented for the parents of intervention group, in the form of four weekly 2-h sessions. Parents were assessed at the baseline, within one week post-intervention, and three-month follow-up to evaluate the outcome variables. The data were analyzed using the Chi-square test, two-sample t-test, general linear model analyses, and Bonferroni test.ResultsIn terms of parent–adolescent general communication, parental monitoring, parent–adolescent communication about sex-related topics, parent’s sexual communication skills, parent’s self-efficacy, and responsiveness to sexual communication. There were no significant differences between intervention and control groups at the baseline (p>0.05). Compared to controls, intervention parents reported more improvement in general communication across the time; however, significant differences were not observed regarding general communication and parental monitoring (p=0.94, p=0.95). Parents in the intervention group significantly differed from those in the control group for the mean scores of parent–adolescent communication about sex-related topics (p=0.04), parent’s sexual communication skills (p=0.04), parent’s self-efficacy (p=0.002), and responsiveness (p<0.001) to sexual communication at each follow-up.ConclusionsWe identified the educational program as a promising tool for improving parent–adolescent communication regarding sexuality-related issues. This program provides the evidence for implementation of parent-based sexuality education programs.

Nursing Scientific Production on Teenage Pregnancy: An Integrative Review

Objective: To identify, in the national and international scientific literature, the evidence produced by Nursing that provides subsidies to prevent teenage pregnancy. Material and method: An integrative literature review study, based on papers available in the PubMed, BVS, Scopus and Web of Science metabases, and in the Lilacs and BDEnf databases, in Portuguese, English and Spanish languages, published from January 2013 to March 2020. Results: According to the inclusion criteria, 13 articles were selected. The findings are presented in the categories “lower socio-economic conditions”, “knowledge, attitudes and cultural aspects” and “sexual education and specialized services”. Conclusions: Teenage pregnancy is strongly associated with poverty and other socio-economic issues. Gender relations, communication about sex education in the family and other cultural aspects were found in the discussions, which indicates their impact on this phenomenon. Interventions involving sex education are shown as an alternative to cope. The presence of the nurse at the places that assist or concentrate adolescents can be a great element to reduce pregnancy rates in this phase.

Exploring the Meaning of Sexual Health Through the Voices of Black Adolescents With HIV-Positive Mothers: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

BackgroundYouth who have a parent living with HIV represent a population that may experience negative sexual health outcomes particularly if they reside within social and cultural contexts (e.g., families, communities, schools) that contribute community-level risks associated with HIV infection.ObjectiveThis study sought to understand how adolescents with HIV-positive mothers engage in parent–child communication about sex and give meaning to their sexual health attitudes, beliefs, and experiences.MethodsAn interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach was used to collect focus group and individual interview data from fourteen Black adolescents residing in an urban U.S. city that is characterized to have a generalized HIV epidemic. NVivo supported qualitative data analysis, which was guided by a six-step heuristic framework.FindingsThree themes were associated with HIV-affected adolescents' meaning-making around sexual health—Being Ambivalent about Sex, Making Decisions about Sex, and Reflecting on Sexual Health. These themes describe participants' perspectives of informal parent–child communication about sex and offer an interpretation of their sexual health attitudes, beliefs, decision-making, and risk-taking behaviors.ConclusionDespite informally engaging in parent–child communication about sex with their mothers, many participants did not articulate comprehensive sexual health knowledge and furthermore sought opportunities for increased dialogue around decision-making concerning their sexual health.