Researchers surveyed 3,200 teens (ages 13 to 18) about their sexual practices once a year for four years. The teens tended to become closer to their fathers after the father found out they were having sex; however, mothers were more knowledgeable about their children's lives.
Spending a lot of family time together was the most important factor in reducing risky sexual behaviors such as multiple partners and inconsistent use of birth control.
"There is a second, really important message from our research," said the study's lead author, Levine Coley. "When adolescents engaged more with their families in really simple activities, like eating dinner together, then engagement in sexual activities declined."
The study did not find that parents get angry when they find out their child has become sexually active, which was a conclusion of previous studies.
This study appeared in the journal Child Development.
Labels: sex, teenagers, parental-involvement, fathers
Posted By: Aspen/CRC