Abstract
While parents may not be recognized as disseminators of sexual information, positive and negative sexual messages are communicated by parents to their children, both verbally and nonverbally. The results of this study indicate that the impact of parental messages upon the sexuality of youth appears relatively straightforward for males, but quite complex for females. This article suggests educational approaches that can be used to recycle early parental sexual messages.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrews, F., and Withey, S. (1976).Social Indicators of Well-Being: Americans' Perceptions of Life Quality, Plenum Press, New York.
Auerback, A., Hoffman, M., Newgard, K., Ramer, B., Terr, L., and McIlvenna, T. (1976). Symposium of sexual idiosyncrasies.Med. Aspects Hum. Sexual. 10: 70–79.
Campbell, A., Converse, P., and Rogers, W. (1976).The Quality of American Life: Perceptions, Evaluations, and Satisfactions, Russell Sage, New York.
Chilman, C. (1974). Some psychological aspects of female sexuality.Fam. Coordinator 23: 123–131.
D'andrade, R. (1974). Sex differences and cultural institutions. In Levine, R. (ed.),Culture and Personality, Aldine, Chicago.
DeMartino, M. (1979).Human Autoerotic Practices, Human Sciences Press, New York.
Elkin, F., and Handel, G. (1978).The Child and Society: The Process of Socialization, Random House, New York.
Exner, M. (1915).Problems and Principles of Sex Instruction, American Social Hygiene Association, New York.
Gagnon, J. (1965). Sexuality and sexual learning in the child.Psychiatry 28: 212–228.
Gagnon, J., and Simon, W. (1973).Sexual Conduct: The Social Sources of Human Sexuality, Aldine, Chicago.
Gebhard, P. (1977). The acquisition of basic sex information.J. Sex Res. 13: 148–484.
Hughes, W. (1926). Sex experiences of boyhood.Soc. Hygiene 12: 262–273.
Jessor, S., and Jessor, R. (1975). Transition from virginity to nonvirginity among youth: A social-psychological study over time.Dev. Psychol. 11(4): 473–484.
Kagan, J. (1964). Acquisition and significance of sex typing and sex role identity. In Hoffman, M., and Hoffman, L. (eds.),Review of Child Development Research, Vol. 1, Russell Sage, New York.
Kinsey, A., Pomeroy, W., and Martin, C. (1948).Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, Saunders, Philadelphia.
Kinsey, A., Pomeroy, W., Martin, C., and Gebhard, P. (1953).Sexual Behavior in the Human Female, Saunders, Philadelphia.
Lewis, R. (1973). Parents and peers: Socialization agents in the coital behavior of young adults.J. Sex Res. 9(2): 156–170.
Maccoby, E., and Jacklin, C. (1974).The Psychology of Sex Differences, Stanford University Press, Stanford, Calif.
Masters, W., and Johnson, V. (1966).Human Sexual Response, Little, Brown, Boston.
Masters, W., and Johnson, V. (1970).Human Sexual Inadequacy, Little, Brown, Boston.
McNab, W. (1976). Sexual attitude development in children and the parents' role.J. School Hlth. 46(9): 537–542.
Ramsey, G. (1943). The sex information of younger boys.J. Orthopsychiat. 13: 347–352.
Sorenson, R. (1973).Adolescent Sexuality in Contemporary America, World Publishing, New York.
Spanier, G. (1977). Sources of sex information and premarital sexual behavior.J. Sex Res. 13: 73–88.
Thornberg, H. (1972). A comparative study of sex information sources.J. School Hlth. 62: 88–91.
Zelnik, M., and Kantner, J. (1972). Sexuality, contraception, and pregnancy among unwed females in the United States. In Westoff, C. F., and Parke, R., Jr. (eds.),Commission on Population Growth and the American Future, Research Reports, Vol. I.Demographic and Social Aspects of Population Growth, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, #HD 10689-02. David J. Kallen, Department of Pediatrics/Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University was the principal investigator.
Received Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Current research interest is Human sexuality.
Received Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University. Current research interest is Relationships.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Darling, C.A., Hicks, M.W. Parental influence on adolescent sexuality: Implications for parents as educators. J Youth Adolescence 11, 231–245 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537469
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537469