Supportive relationships and sexual risk behavior in adolescence: An ecological-transactional approach

Citation

Henrich, C. C.; Brookmeyer, K. A.; Shrier, L. A.; & Shahar, G. (2006). Supportive relationships and sexual risk behavior in adolescence: An ecological-transactional approach. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. vol. 31 (3) pp. 286-297

Abstract

Objective To examine the longitudinal associations between supportive relationships with friends and parents and sexual risk behavior in adolescence based on an ecological–transactional perspective. Methods Analyses were conducted on 2,652 sexually active adolescents from the first two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Results African-American adolescents had lower risk for sexual risk behavior. Supportive friendships and parent connectedness interacted in predicting decreased likelihood of sexual risk behavior. Mother–child communication about sex contributed to decreased likelihood of sexual risk only for girls. There were also small reciprocal effects of sexual risk behavior on decreased relationship quality over time. Conclusion To better understand the parents’ role in adolescent sexual risk behavior, multiple facets of parenting, the social contexts of parenting and adolescents’ peers, and the effects of adolescents’ behavior on these relationships should be taken into consideration.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsj024

Keyword(s)

Sexual Behavior

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Journal of Pediatric Psychology

Author(s)

Henrich, C. C.
Brookmeyer, K. A.
Shrier, L. A.
Shahar, G.

Year Published

2006

Volume Number

31

Issue Number

3

Pages

286-297

DOI

10.1093/jpepsy/jsj024

Reference ID

579