Interventions to Improve Parental Communication About Sex: A Systematic Review

Abstract

CONTEXT: The relative effectiveness of interventions to improve parental communication with adolescents about sex is not known. OBJECTIVE:To compare the effectiveness and methodologic quality of interventions for improving parental communication with adolescents about sex. METHODS:We searched 6 databases: OVID/Medline, PsychInfo, ERIC, Cochrane Review, Communication and Mass Media, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. We included studies published between 1980 and July 2010 in peer-reviewed English-language journals that targeted US parents of adolescents aged 11 to 18 years, used an experimental or quasi-experimental design, included a control group, and had a pretest/posttest design. We abstracted data on multiple communication outcomes defined by the integrative conceptual model (communication frequency, content, skills, intentions, selfefficacy, perceived environmental barriers/facilitators, perceived social norms, attitudes, outcome expectations, knowledge, and beliefs). Methodologic quality was assessed using the 11-item methodologic quality score. RESULTS:Twelve studies met inclusion criteria. Compared with controls, parents who participated in these interventions experienced improvements in multiple communication domains including the frequency, quality, intentions, comfort, and self-efficacy for communicating. We noted no effects on parental attitudes toward communicating or the outcomes they expected to occur as a result of communicating. Four studies were of high quality, 7 were of medium quality, and 1 was of lower quality. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). CONCLUSIONS: 494AKERS et al by guest on May 10, 2018 http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/ Downloaded from Adolescent sexual behavior is a normal developmental milestone. However, the social and public health consequences of adolescent sexual activity are tremendous. Of the 18 million sexually transmitted infections diagnosed in the United States each year, 1,2 half occur in adolescents. [3][4][5] Pregnancy affects 750 000 adolescents annually, 80% of which are unintended. 6 Despite recent declines in the number of sexually active adolescents, engagement in risky sexual behaviors remains problematic. 7 Adolescents who recall a parent talking with them about sex are more likely to report delaying sexual initiation [8][9][10] and increasing condom 8,11,12 and contraceptive 11,13 use. In light of these findings, interventions for improving parental communication about sex have been developed. 14 Although dozens of interventions exist, they have not been rigorously compared. We sought to examine whether interventions for improving parental communication with adolescents about sex are effective at strengthening multiple communication domains and to assess the methodologic quality of these interventions. METHODSWith the assistance of health science librarians, 6 databases were searched: OVID/Medline (1980 to July 2010), PsychInfo (1980 to July 2010), ERIC (1980 to July 2010), Cochrane Review (until...

Sexuality Education for Children and Adolescents

“…48 From a separate review covering 1980 through July 2010, mothers were the primary discussant in all interventions. 49 In reviewing the role of fathers in sexual health discussions, Kirkman et al 50 found that fathers recognized, by selfreport, that they need to share the role of communication about this topic with their teenagers but that they leave the conversation to the mothers more often than not. Although mothers can also effectively teach their sons about sexuality, 51 the relationship boys have with their fathers or other male role models plays a crucial role in their sexual health, including reducing sexual risk taking and delaying initiation of sexual intercourse, especially in those boys with a connection to their fathers, whether they live in the same home or not.…”

Increasing boys’ and girls’ intentions to avoid teenage pregnancy: a cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial of an interactive video drama-based intervention in post-primary schools in Northern Ireland

“…61,62 Teenagers who can recall a parent communicating with them about sex are more likely to report delaying sexual debut and increased condom and contraceptive use. [63][64][65] One element of the If I Were Jack theory of change involves increasing communication about UTP among parents and teens. First, the resource includes a homework task and materials to generate the communication from the child's perspective.…”

Conocimiento y fuentes de información sobre las ITS/VIH, comunicación sobre sexo y actitud hacia el uso del preservativo en adolescentes y padres/madres salvadoreños

“…Resulta posible, por lo tanto, que las discrepancias que se han hallado entre padres e hijos sobre la frecuencia de comunicación sobre el tema se deban a ello. Se podrían llevar a cabo programas educativos en los que se forme a los padres en contenidos sobre sexualidad, ITS/VIH y en habilidades de comunicación para incrementar la frecuencia y calidad de la comunicación sobre sexo con sus hijos (Akers et al, 2011;Kajula et al, 2014;Miller et al, 2011;Poulsen et al, 2010) así como optimizar e incrementar como principales fuentes de información de los hijos a los padres y madres.…”

“…En el ámbito sexual, una mayor frecuencia de comunicación tendría como consecuencia que los adolescentes acudan a sus progenitores cuando necesiten información al respecto (Sales et al, 2008). Así, en una revisión reciente de estudios se concluyó que los padres que participaban en intervenciones centradas en la comunicación parental sobre el sexo, mejoraban en varios dominios de la comunicación como por ejemplo, la frecuencia, la calidad y las intenciones comunicativas (Akers, Holland, & Bost, 2011). Otros hallazgos apuntan a que una mayor comunicación entre padres e hijos adolescentes sobre sexualidad se asocia con el incremento de actitudes positivas hacia el uso del preservativo y, por tanto, con su uso más frecuente (Malcolm et al, 2012).…”