Parental Influence on Adolescent Sexual Behavior: A Source of Efficacy

Ron Bulanda, Bowling Green State University

In this study, the primary objective is to understand how dimensions of the parent-child relationship are associated with the sexual risk taking behaviors of adolescents. Specifically these dimensions include the monitoring behavior and availability of the parents, as well as the levels of communication with the adolescents. The salience of these dimensions to adolescent sexual risk taking will be assessed via its impact on promoting self-efficacy in the teenagers. The results will evaluate the hypotheses that parents indirectly influence the likelihood of adolescents employing contraceptive methods. This study utilizes data from the first wave of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). A series of models employing the appropriate regression techniques will be used to assess the influence of the parent-child relationship on adolescent self-efficacy, and the potential for self-efficacy to mediate the relationship between parent-child relations and contraceptive use.