THE EFFECTS OF PARENTAL MEDIATION OF SEXUAL CONTENT ON THE SEXUAL KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIORS OF ADOLESCENTS IN THE US

This study explored the effects of parental mediation of sexual television content on adolescents' sexual knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory communication class (N = 180) recalled the mediation behaviors their parents used when they were in high school as well as reported their past and current sexual behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge. The results revealed that coviewing of sexual content serves as an endorsement of the material for adolescents, restrictive mediation is best in moderate amounts, and that active mediation is most effective when it is paired with an open, conversational delivery style. Overall this study highlights the importance of the role of context, style, and nuance when studying the effects of parental mediation on adolescents' outcomes. The implications of this work for encouraging positive parent-child relationships and comfortable, healthy exchanges about sex are discussed.