Parents' Perspectives on Talk with Their Adolescent and Emerging Adult Children About Sex: a Longitudinal Analysis

Introduction Few studies longitudinally investigate parent-teen communication about sex and data are particularly sparse regarding parent-child communication during emerging adulthood. Methods This study assesses continuity and change in parent-child sexuality communication over three time points from adolescence to emerging adulthood. It uses interview data from 15 parents in the USA at three time points over an eight-year period from 2012 to 2019 (when the teen was in 7th grade, when the teen was in 10th grade, and after the teen finished high school). Data were analyzed using content analysis. Results Our findings showed that parents continued to talk with their emerging adult children about sex and relationships. Whereas the topics of conversation were similar over time, the content of conversations shifted, with a growing focus on specific relationships and situations. Parents described the gender of their teen/emerging adult children as salient in shaping their comfort in talking with them about sex and relationships. Conclusions These findings suggest that emerging adulthood may provide ongoing opportunities for parents and their children to talk in open and connected ways about sex and relationships. Policy Implications Programs that support family communication about sex and relationships could expand to address the changing needs of adolescents and emerging adults as they develop, and the ongoing role of parents in supporting their children's health beyond adolescence.