Parent-Child Communication About Sexuality

Abstract

The family plays an important and powerful role in the sexual socialization of children and adolescents. The information and messages that are (or are not) communicated between parents and children have the potential to shape sexual decision-making during adolescence, particularly related to HIV/AIDS risk behaviors. This paper presents a review and synthesis of three areas of the literature on parent-child communication about sexuality-content and process; predictors of parent-child communication; and behavioral outcomes associated with communication. Based on the review, gaps in the research and directions for future studies are discussed.