[Aditya]

Take an active role

Parents have a responsibility to their children to take an active role in teaching them about the consequences of sex. It is a crucial aspect of parenting that can make the difference between quality of life and even life and death.

It is dangerous for parents to assume that their kids understand sexual consequences. It can also be harmful for parents to assume that their kids understand their disapproval of the teens’ becoming sexually active. The reality is that parental influence is the biggest factor regarding whether their kids will have sex during the teen years.

Mothers matter

In a study published in September 2002, researchers at the University of Minnesota found that teenagers are less likely to start having sex when their mothers are deeply involved in their lives and successfully communicate their values on sex. The study was national and longitudinal, conducting sensitive interviews with several thousand mothers and adolescents separately. Robert Blum, MD, Ph.D., professor and director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Adolescent Health and Development, authored the study.

According to the study’s findings, when teens perceive that their mothers oppose them having sex, they are less likely to do so. Connectedness proved to be more important to kids than what their mothers said. In the study, “connectedness” means how close teens feel to their mothers, how much they feel mother cares for them, how warm and loving mother is, and how good communication is with their mother. The amount of satisfaction a teen feels toward her relationship with her mom is also crucial.

When mothers recommended birth control to their teens, kids were less likely to perceive their mothers’ disapproval of their having sex. The study showed that when mothers reported feeling satisfied with their relationships with their 14- and 15-year-old daughters, their daughters were less likely to report having intercourse.

Dr. Blum notes, “kids will pay attention to their parents’ values on sex.” He continues that “talk alone does not get the message through.” Being actively involved in the lives of their daughters is another way moms may help preventing early sex. Mothers seem to have more of an influence delaying their daughters from having sex than their sons. Boys may be more influenced by fathers, siblings and peers on the timing of first intercourse.