Sexuality Among Young Adults : The Role Of Parents

With adolescence being a time of both sexual maturation and increased risk-taking, it is unsurprising that adolescence is a period in which many young people become sexually active (Tillett, 2005). With 69% of year 10 to 12 students reporting having engaged in some kind of sexual activity and 34% having engaged in intercourse (Mitchell et al, 2014), the idea that adolescence is a period of sexual innocence is misinformed; young people do have sex, whether or not they have undertaken sex education or have access to contraception. The ethical issues around adolescent access to contraception are numerous. The idea that young people will engage in more sex if they are able to access contraception is persistent, and this holds the potential for unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and damage caused by having sex without giving informed consent. The second ethical issue of parental consent revolves around parents having the right to be aware of their children’s medical history, conflicting with the child’s right to confidentiality.

We have all heard the stories about the rise in teenage pregnancies, girls dropping out of school to care for their newborns, and even those who get pregnant on purpose. This new trend is everywhere. Most parents fail to have the “talk” with their children and are left without the proper education regarding sex until its too late. With the current rates of teenage pregnancy correlated with the current rates of spreading epidemics of STD’s and HIV/AIDS, steps should be taken in an effort to aid the situation. Schools are a main source of information and education for teens, and are in a unique position that can provide adolescents with knowledgeable skills and understanding that promote sexual health. With consistent speculation surrounding

“The ideal of what historian Anne Higonnet calls the Romantic Child, our modern image of a naturally asexual, pure child, is at the heart of century-long conflicts over sex education. By definition, the romantic child’s innocence depends on protection from sexuality” (Talk About Sex 13). Parents, in general, do not feel at ease thinking about their children having sex, nor do they want to encourage them to do so. The fact that most parents are not comfortable talking about the subject with their children only increases the importance of doing so in our schools.

Parents, especially from minority groups who did not have the opportunity to pursue and education, often times do not have the proper resources or time to give advise to their children about sexual health. A research study in the form of a survey in six Boston high schools was conducted about what high school students think about teen pregnancy prevention. The sample of students consisted of half female and half male. The study concluded that 32% of students wanted more parental communication about sexual health to prevent unwanted pregnancies. This shows that if parents were more involved in their children’s lives, they would be influences positively to make the right choices when choosing to have sex at a young age (Hacker, 1999). It may seem impossible for some parents to talk to their teens about sex due to their schedules, education, or simply embarrassment, but having a thirty-minute conversation about sex is a lot better than having their children give birth to children.

Sexual education is an important topic which as to be addressed due to the growing debates as to weather it should be implemented within the school system. The Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education states that sexual education curriculums addresses a range of topics including “puberty, effective contraceptive methods, prevention of STI/HIV, communication skills, sexual orientation, interpersonal relationships, and media literacy” (Public Health Agency of Canada). Children need to address such issues early in order to protect them from early initiation of sexual activity, sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. The issue is then weather or not parents support such a program.

Sexuality is an intrinsic part of being a human being. Hence, it follows that as we grow sexual development is normal and for most a point of curiosity. In an age where even a curious five year old could ask the internet where babies come from instead of asking their parents, it is becoming increasingly evident sexual education is a necessity for the sexual health of America’s youth. Sexual education is an important class that should be integrated into the public school system in order to prevent the problems of teen pregnancy and STDs such as HIV. The CDC reports that in 2015 about 230,000 babies were born to teen girls aged 15-19 and that nearly half of the 20 million new STD cases reported in 2015 were among young adults between the ages

Talking Parents, Healthy Teens is a program consisting of eight weekly one-hour sessions that is offered in the workplace for parents of adolescent children in Southern California. This program aims to help parents acquire the ability to discuss sexual health topics. Talking Parents, Healthy Teens uses resources such as games, discussions, and role play to teach their children assertiveness and decision-making more effectively. A study by Schuster et.al tested a sample of 569 parents their adolescents randomly assigned to either attend the program or to a no-treatment control group. Participants were assisted at baseline and again one-week, three-month, and nine-month after completing the programs. Participants were to report having discussed

In both cases, Abstinence-only education did not direct them, in any way, to abstain from sex (Valenti). Therefore, given that so many teens will not desist from sex, effective sex education programs have the responsibility to help teens to be aware of the risks and consequences that come along with sexuality, like early pregnancy or STDs (Alford). Such effective programs should employ personalized interviews and follow-ups for each student and parents; as well as committees including doctors, psychologists, pediatricians, and real young people with shocking experience as a teen

Statistics show that teenagers are having sex, especially unsafe sex. Our lack of educating children is projected when the United States has some of the highest sexually transmitted infection rates and pregnancy rates for teenagers among industrialized nations (NCBI). When this day in age a teacher can be investigated for using the word “vagina” our children may be prone to inhibit their questions, it stunts communication, and it cultivates secrets with sexual abusers. It’s time as parents we become aware of changing times and teach our children how to appropriately cope with

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reports that “adolescents ages 15-24 account for nearly half of the 20 million new cases of STD's each year.”1 Though all 50 states and the District of Columbia allow adolescents to be tested and treated for STDs without parental consent or knowledge of the procedure, many adolescents forgo the tests in fear that their parents may become aware of their tests through insurance notifications. I feel that it is unfortunate that some adolescents are not able to have open communications with their parents about sexual and reproductive health care issues. Conversations about these issues should begin early in life so children will not feel self-conscious when discussing sexual issues

Sexuality is a normative part of adolescent development. Early adolescent sexual debut is associated with more negative outcomes (Broderick and Blewit, 2015). Different cultures hold different view of sexual orientation. Almost weekly we here about

Parents want their children to practice abstinence for their health and for a healthy marriage, but would prefer schools encourage and teach abstinence. Many parents do not feel comfortable talking about sex and remaining abstinent . “Some researchers have found that when parents talk to their adolescents about sexuality, adolescents are more likely to delay intercourse and if they have intercourse, to use contraception and have fewer partners.” (Hutchinson Mk, Jemmott JB 3rd, Jemmott LS, Braverman P, Fong GT, 2003) ; “when parents talk about these topics , they tend to lecture possibly inhibiting open communication. “( Jaccard J, Dittus PJ Gordon VV, 2000 ) Parents who feel more confident in their communication with their children have an open, healthy and receptive conversation.

Teenage sexual activity has sparked an outcry within the nation. With such activity comes a high price. Studies have shown that there has been a significant rise in the number of children with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), emotional and psychological problems, and out-of-wedlock childbearing. Sex has always been discussed publically by the media, television shows, music and occasionally by parents and teachers in educational context. Teens hear them, and as the saying goes, “monkey see, monkey do”, they are tempted to experiment with it. Therefore, it is important for every teenager to be aware of the outcome associated with premature-sex. If students are educated about the impact of

If they don’t have open communication with their parent or any form of communication at all, health services can provide sexual education, improving a person’s health as well as the atmosphere between family communication. Due to this, parental communication or formal communication can enhance awareness in sexual and reproductive health to youths depending on the quality of information exposed to them. Creating a stable environment in which a parent can openly communicate with their child by using quality information about healthy choices leads to a well-adjusted adult. It is key that communication begins early, in young adulthood, to generate a health conscious generation of

The responsibility to educate adolescents, as they become aware of their sexuality, is shared between parents and school teachers. The authors, however, reveal that most parents neglect or relinquish this central and innate responsibility, to educate, to school teachers. Janković, Malatestinić, and Striehl affirm with certainty that if the parents neglect to educate their children, then the media, with its vast stimulation of the senses and societal popularity-standard shifting powers, and their peers will do it for them. The study focuses on the parents’ opinion and disposition to educate their children about sexual health but not on what actions, parents must implement in order to achieve a successful instruction. The study also lacks concrete evidence on the adolescents’ attitudes and subjectivity towards the sexual revolution and the unpopular view of parents as mentors in the sexual