Mothers? influence on the timing of first sex among 14- and 15-year-olds

Citation

McNeely, Clea; Shew, Marcia L.; Beuhring, Trisha; Sieving, Renee; Miller, Brent C.; & Blum, Robert W. M. (2002). Mothers? influence on the timing of first sex among 14- and 15-year-olds. Journal of Adolescent Health. vol. 31 (3) pp. 256-265

Abstract

Purpose: To better understand maternal influence on the timing of first sex for adolescents.

Methods: Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between maternal characteristics and the timing of first sex. Matched dyads of mothers and their adolescent children were used.

Results: Of the 2006 adolescents aged 14 and 15 years who reported to be virgins, 95 males (10.8%) and 162 females (15.8%) indicated they had initiated sex within the follow-up period, 1 year later. For males, few variables beyond the controls used in the models were predictive of timing of first sexual intercourse. For females, mother’s satisfaction with her relationship with her daughter (hazard ratio = .62), mother’s strong disapproval of her daughter having sex (hazard ratio = .56), and frequency of communication with the parents of her daughter’s friends were associated with later sexual debut (hazard ratio = .88).

Conclusion: Based on the variables in the model, mothers’ values and beliefs and relationship satisfaction have more influence on daughters than on sons.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1054-139X(02)00350-6

Keyword(s)

Sexual Behavior

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Journal of Adolescent Health

Author(s)

McNeely, Clea
Shew, Marcia L.
Beuhring, Trisha
Sieving, Renee
Miller, Brent C.
Blum, Robert W. M.

Year Published

2002

Volume Number

31

Issue Number

3

Pages

256-265

ISSN/ISBN

1054-139X

DOI

10.1016/S1054-139X(02)00350-6

Reference ID

180