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Delay Discounting Mediates Parent–Adolescent Relationship Quality and Risky Sexual Behavior for Low Self-Control Adolescents

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Abstract

Parent–adolescent relationship quality and delay discounting may play important roles in adolescents’ sexual decision making processes, and levels of self-control during adolescence could act as a buffer within these factors. This longitudinal study included 219 adolescent (55 % male; mean age = 12.66 years at Wave 1; mean age = 15.10 years at Wave 2) and primary caregiver dyads. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to determine whether delay discounting mediated the association between parent–adolescent relationship quality and adolescents’ risky sexual behavior and how this mediated association may differ between those with high versus low self-control. The results revealed parent–adolescent relationship quality plays a role in the development of risky sexual behavior indirectly through levels of delay discounting, but only for adolescents with low self-control. These findings could inform sex education policies and health prevention programs that address adolescent risky sexual behavior.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Grants awarded to Jungmeen Kim-Spoon from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD057386) and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (DA036017). We thank Laurel Marburg, Eirini Papafratzeskakou, Diana Riser, and Gregory Longo for their help with data collection. We are grateful to adolescents and parents who participated in our study.

Authors’ Contributions

R.E.K conceived of the study, participated in its design and interpretation of the data, performed the statistical analysis, and drafted the manuscript. C.H. participated in the design and interpretation of the data. J.P.F participated in the coordination of the study and performed measurements. J. K. conceived of the study, participated in its design and coordination, supervised the statistical analysis, and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript for submission.

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  1. Department of Psychology (MC 0436), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Rachel E. Kahn, Christopher Holmes, Julee P. Farley & Jungmeen Kim-Spoon

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  2. Christopher Holmes
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  3. Julee P. Farley
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  4. Jungmeen Kim-Spoon
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Correspondence to Rachel E. Kahn.

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Kahn, R.E., Holmes, C., Farley, J.P. et al. Delay Discounting Mediates Parent–Adolescent Relationship Quality and Risky Sexual Behavior for Low Self-Control Adolescents. J Youth Adolescence 44, 1674–1687 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-015-0332-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-015-0332-y

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