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Article
Parenting and Adolescents' Sexual Initiation
Journal of Marriage and the Family
  • Monica A Longmore, Bowling Green State University
  • Peggy C. Giordano, Bowling Green State University
  • Wendy D Manning, Bowling Green State University
  • A L Eng
Document Type
Article
Disciplines
Abstract

This study draws on social control and social learning theories to examine the role of dating-specific attitudes and practices as predictors of adolescents' sexual initiation. We include attention to the adolescent's reaction to control attempts as a further means of assessing family dynamics (i.e., frequency of dating disagreements). The study uses longitudinal data from 697 adolescents who were not sexually active at the first interview as well as separate interviews with parents. In models that include all parenting variables, parental caring, parents' preferences that the child should delay sex, and the frequency of dating disagreements are significant predictors of initiation of teen sexual activity.

Publisher's Statement
Availability via databases maintained by the United States National Library of Medicine.
Publication Date
11-1-2009
Citation Information
Monica A Longmore, Peggy C. Giordano, Wendy D Manning and A L Eng. "Parenting and Adolescents' Sexual Initiation" Journal of Marriage and the Family (2009) p. 969 - 982
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/wendy_manning/12/