New Research Report on Parent-Child communication about Relationships & Sex
The Crisis Pregnancy Agency today published a new research report, the first in an Irish context, examining parents’ approaches to educating their pre-adolescent and adolescent children about sexuality. It is the Agency’s 30th research report since its establishment in 2001.
The report, entitled “Parents’ approaches to educating their pre-adolescent and adolescent children about sexuality”, was authored by Dr. Abbey Hyde, Professor Marie Carney, Dr. Jonathan Drennan, Dr. Michelle Butler, and Dr. Etaoine Howlett of University College Dublin and Dr. Maria Lohan of Queens University Belfast.
This study attempted to understand, through analysis of interview data, how parents communicate on the topic of relationships and sexuality with their pre-adolescent and adolescent children. A total of 43 parents were involved in the study, 32 mothers and 11 fathers.
Parents reported that often younger children came to them with questions but parents were reluctant to discuss sexual matters, particularly about sexual intercourse, with them for fear of compromising their innocence. While parents didn’t always respond fully to questions from their younger children, they reported attempting to raise sexual issues with their teenage children. However these attempts were often blocked by the young people who were reluctant to talk about the topic.
While many parents reported that they were ‘open’ about discussing issues of sexuality in the home, participants who felt that schools and parents need to take a shared responsibility for sexuality education were often found to deliver similar messages and information to those who felt that they did not need to undertake much sexuality education. Some parents reported talking about sexual matters at a superficial level. However, it is important to note that they did tend to invite their children to raise issues with them, leaving the onus on the young person to initiate the discussion. Issues such as contraception were often not covered because parents believed that their adolescent was not sexually active, was not romantically involved or had acquired adequate information at school. Even those who believed that sexuality education was the responsibility of both parents and the school tended to rely heavily on the school to deliver that education.
Launching the report, Director of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, Caroline Spillane said: “It’s important that parents start communicating with children at an early age about relationships and sex, delivering age-appropriate and accurate information to create an environment where children will feel comfortable in discussing the subject as they get older. Parents are best placed to judge precisely what information is appropriate for their children at various stages in their lives. The Agency has created a number of resources to help parents feel comfortable and confident in leading a conversation about relationships and avoid a situation where they are reacting to teenagers’ behaviour as they get older.”
Dr. Abbey Hyde, one of the authors of the report added: “Whilst many parents find it difficult to engage in sexuality education with teenagers because young people tend to block discussions about sexuality, parents need to be aware that other sources of information which are available to young people, such as media and the internet may not convey the sense of responsibility needed to maintain good sexual health. Parents’ role in sexuality education needs to be strengthened so that healthy sexual values are transmitted to young people. We know from existing research that parental monitoring, such as knowing what time adolescents come and go and where they are has a protective effect in terms of sexual health. Low parental monitoring has been found to be associated with early sexual activity, more sexual partners and inconsistent contraceptive use.”
Ends.
For further information contact:
Lorna Farren
Crisis Pregnancy Agency
01 814 6292
087 6289831
Editor’s Notes
1. The Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA) was established in 2001 and is mandated to provide for:
A) A reduction in the number of crisis pregnancies by the provision of education, advice and contraceptive services
B) A reduction in the number of women with crisis pregnancies who opt for abortion by offering services and support which make other options more attractive
C) The provision of counselling services, medical services and other health services for the purpose of providing support, after crisis pregnancy, as may be deemed appropriate by the Agency.
2. “Parents’ approaches to educating their pre-adolescent and adolescent children about sexuality”, is available for download on http://www.crisispregnancy.ie/pub/report%2021%20hyde.pdf. It was authored by Dr. Abbey Hyde, Ms. Marie Carney, Mr. Jonathan Drennan, Ms. Michelle Butler, and Ms. Etaoine Howlett of University College Dublin and Dr. Maria Lohan of Queens University Belfast.
All participants in the study had at least one child aged 10-19 at the time of the interview.
3. Resources for Parents
The Agency has developed a number of resources to assist parents in providing age-appropriate information to their children on relationships and sex:
• ‘Busy Bodies’– Resource for parents of 10-14 year olds – Parents can order a copy by freetexting BUSY followed by their name and address to 50444.
• ‘You can talk to me’- Resource for parents of 11-15 year olds – Parents can order a copy by freetexting PARENT followed by their name and address to 50444.
• ‘Parents, make the time to talk’ – Resource for parents of 15-17 year olds – Parents can order a copy by freetexting TALK followed by their name and address to 50444.
• The Facts DVD – Resource for parents of 15-17 year olds – Contains information on fertility, contraception, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and crisis pregnancy as well as a condom demonstration. Parents can order a copy by freetexting FACTS followed by their name and address to 50444.
