Launch of ‘You can talk to me’ resource for parents

DVD launched to help parents talk to teens about sex

Press release/7 March 2005

The Crisis Pregnancy Agency today (7th) launched the findings of four studies investigating various aspects of teenage sexuality. The studies confirm that many teenagers are becoming sexually active at a younger age and that the absence of guidance – especially from their parents -was leaving them open to influence and pressure. The findings led the Agency to develop a specific DVD resource to help parents in the complex task of communicating with teens on sex.

Speaking about the research findings the Chairperson of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, Olive Braiden, said ‘young people in our studies often had serious gaps in their knowledge which could leave them open to crisis pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and sexual experiences for which they are not prepared. Evidence suggests that for teenagers who have had sex, sixteen is reported as the average age when they first had sexual intercourse, this age is even lower (13.5 years) for young people who have left school early.’

Two of the studies investigated teenagers’ perspectives on sexuality, their sex education and the issues and pressures that influence their sexual behaviour. The influence of friends emerged as a major factor in the decisions young people make about sex, relationship and contraception.

According to the research both boys and girls are controlled by a desire to fit-in with their group. Girls face the task of trying to maintain a ‘good reputation’ while at the same time they are being pressure to extend their sexual limits. Boys feel pressure to have sex, appear macho and sexually knowledgeable. Interestingly, participants were unsure exactly how sexually active their peers were.

Many respondents believe that drinking increased sexual desire and gave young people the necessary confidence to act on it. The studies found that girls, who normally control how far things will go, find it difficult to keep their boundaries when alcohol has been consumed. Some young people, at risk of unplanned pregnancy, are too embarrassed to carry condoms because they fear being labelled as promiscuous.

‘Lack of information about sex and relationship leaves adolescents vulnerable and ill equipped to make the decisions they are faced with,’ said Ms Braiden. ‘Our research strongly suggests that parents play a vital role in closing the gap between what young people need to know and what they are picking up from less reliable sources such as friends, the internet and general media. This is particularly important when it comes to instilling values in young people,’ she said.

According to the Director of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, Sharon Foley, what parents need most is help in beginning the conversation with their children. ‘We know from our research that children want to learn about sex and relationships from their parents. Talking about sex does not mean that you are encouraging them to have sex. In fact, young people who discuss sex and relationship with their parents are more likely to delay when they first have sex,’ she said.

The Agency’s new DVD and booklet, entitled ‘You Can Talk To Me’, focuses on communication skills rather than biological facts. ‘Both resources will be available free to parents through libraries, Citizens Information Centres and will also be made available for use in parenting courses,’ said Ms Foley.

A further report analysed the number of television programmes containing sexual scenes and interviewed teenagers to find out their views about sex on TV. The report established that:
• 52% of general audience programmes contain scenes of a sexual nature
• most sexual references on television are mild and brief
• the level of nudity or implied nudity shown was ‘relatively high’ compared with a similar study in the US.

Commenting on the research Ms Braiden said: ‘It is heartening to see that most young people demonstrated a mature and in some cases even a conservative attitude to sex on TV. However, the impact of reality television and ‘mock’ documentaries is a concern. It would appear that many young people are confused by the content of such programmes and tend to regard what they see as being more credible. The level of what the research report termed as ‘intercourse implied’ in programmes, not subject to a watershed, is a serious concern,’ she said.

Ends.

For further information contact: Caroline Spillane, Crisis Pregnancy Agency T 01 8146292 or 087 2644819

Notes to the Editor:

The reports:
CPA report 2 is called, “Promoting Positive Adolescent Sexual Health & Preventing Teenage Pregnancy – A Review of Recent Effectiveness Research”. Its author is Dr Deirdre Fullerton an independent research consultant specialising in sexual health.
CPA report 8 is entitled, “A study of sexual health issues, attitudes and behaviours: the views of early school leavers”. It was conducted by Dr Paula Mayock and Dr Tina Byrne of the Children’s Research Centre at Trinity College, Dublin.
CPA report 9, “Understanding teenage sexuality in Ireland”, was carried out by Dr Abbey Hyde from the school of Nursing and Midwifery at University College, Dublin. CPA report 10, which is called “Teenagers and the media: an analysis of sexual content on television”, was conducted by Dr Carol MacKeogh of the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology.

Visit www.crisispregnancy.ie to download summaries or full copies of all reports

Parents Resource:
You Can Talk To Me is a new DVD and booklet to help parents in communicating with young people about sexual health and relationships. It is available free to parents through libraries, Citizens Information Centres. It will also be made available for use in parenting courses.

Visit www.crisispregnancy.ie to download the You Can Talk To Me booklet

The resource has been developed by Athena Media & Journeyman Productions.