Sexual Communication and Contraceptive Use in Adolescent Dating Couples

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.06.003

Journal of Adolescent Health

Volume 39, Issue 6, December 2006, Pages 893-899

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.06.003 Get rights and content

Abstract

Purpose

This study had two aims: first, to examine the relationship between general sexual communication and contraceptive use in sexually active adolescent romantic couples, and second, to explore predictors of open communication from characteristics of adolescent couples and individual adolescents.

Methods

Data were drawn from 209 couples dating a minimum of four weeks who participated in the Study of Tennessee Adolescent Romantic Relationships. Seventy-three adolescent dating couples (ages 14–21 years) that engaged in sexual intercourse and completed a sexual communication questionnaire were included in current analyses.

Results

Nearly 30% of couples failed to use contraception at first intercourse and almost half of couples did not use contraception every time they had sex. More open communication about sex from both male and female partners was associated with increased contraceptive use. Additionally, adolescents who were more satisfied in their relationships reported more open communication about sex, and adolescent females who self-silenced reported less open communication about sex. Finally, mediation analyses revealed that boys’ and girls’ relationship satisfaction and girls’ self-silencing indirectly predicted contraceptive use through their effects on general sexual communication.

Conclusions

This is the first known study to address individual and dyadic components of sexual communication using reports from both members of established adolescent dating couples. Findings suggest that open sexual communication between intimate partners is important to sexual decision-making. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Section snippets

General sexual communication and contraceptive use

The benefits of general sexual communication for adolescent contraceptive use, beyond the benefits of contraception-specific communication, are unclear. At least three studies have targeted adolescent populations to explore these benefits [7], [10], [13], with mixed results. Two studies sampling only females demonstrated no significant effects of sexual communication on contraceptive use [7], [10], whereas a third study sampling predominantly males demonstrated that communicating about sexual

Predictors of open general sexual communication

Although sexual communication may be important for adolescent health, it is clearly difficult for some adolescents [4], [5]. Yet, little is known about the factors that account for this poor communication. Whereas some attention has been devoted to understanding sexual communication between adolescents and their friends [14], [15] or parents [16], [17], [18], a paucity of research exists that explores open communication between adolescent sexual partners themselves. Particularly sparse are

Participants and procedure

Data for this investigation come from the Study of Tennessee Adolescent Romantic Relationships (STARR). Participants in the STARR study were from a prior study of over 2000 high school students who indicated interest in future research participation. Interested students were contacted by telephone and provided information regarding the purpose and procedures of STARR. Adolescents who were in a romantic relationship and met the age criteria were mailed consent forms and contacted one week later

Sample Profile

Descriptive statistics are reported in Table 1. As shown in the table, both male and female adolescents in these established relationships appeared relatively satisfied and committed, and tended to engage in moderate levels of contraceptive communication and general sexual communication. Paired sample t-tests revealed that males were older than females, t(72) = −4.8, p < .001, and silenced themselves more in their relationships, t(72) = −5.3, p < .001; whereas females reported more open

Discussion

The present study explored adolescent contraceptive use and sexual communication in the context of established romantic relationships. Findings revealed that a sizeable minority of sexually active adolescents involved in established romantic relationships failed to consistently use contraception. Specifically, almost 30% of adolescent couples failed to use contraception the first time they had sex and nearly half of these couples did not use contraception every time they had sex. These

Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by Grant HD39931 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to Deborah Welsh. We gratefully acknowledge the numerous graduate and undergraduate researchers who assisted in data collection on this project. Our gratitude is also extended to the adolescent couples that participated in this study and generously shared important parts of their lives with us.

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Original articleSexual Communication and Contraceptive Use in Adolescent Dating Couples

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Section snippets

General sexual communication and contraceptive use

Predictors of open general sexual communication

Participants and procedure

Sample Profile

Discussion

Acknowledgments

J Adolesc Health

J Adolesc Health

Satisfaction with sexual communication in marriage: links to sexual satisfaction and dyadic adjustment

J Soc Pers Relat

Women’s emotional well-being: the importance of communicating sexual needs

Sex Marital Ther

The role of sexual attitude similarity in romantic heterosexual relationships

Pers Relatsh

Let’s talk about sex: how comfortable discussions about sex impact teen sexual behavior

J Health Commun

Exploring young people’s difficulties in talking about contraception: how can we encourage more discussion between partners?

Health Educ Res

Communication and contraceptive practices in adolescent couples

Adolescence

Predictors of condom use and multiple partnered sex among sexually-active adolescent women: implications for AIDS-related health interventions

J Sex Res

Sexual communication in interpersonal contexts: a script-based approach

Sexual self-acceptance, communication with partner, and contraceptive use among adolescent females: a longitudinal study

J Res Adolesc

Factor predicting safe-sex talk and condom use in early sexual relationships

Health Commun

Barrier methods for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases

Communication about sexual issues: mothers, fathers, and friends

J Adolesc Health

Communication with best friends about sex-related topics during emerging adulthood

J Youth Adolesc

The amount and timing of parent-adolescent sexual communication as predictors of late adolescent sexual risk-taking behaviors

J Sex Res

He said, she said: gender differences in mother-adolescent conversations about sexuality

J Res Adolesc

Original article
Sexual Communication and Contraceptive Use in Adolescent Dating Couples