POPLINE Document Number: 299935
Author(s):
Fende JM
Boehner CW
Biro FM
Mills L
Rosenthal SL
Source citation:
Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 2001 Aug;14(3):113-117.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to describe adolescent girls' perceptions of their parents' contact with and knowledge of the girls' boyfriends. A second objective was to determine if knowledge was related to demographic characteristics of the girls or aspects of the relationship with their boyfriend. Design: Cross-sectional analysis of data from an interview with adolescent girls enrolled in a longitudinal study. Setting: Urban adolescent medicine clinic. Participants: Adolescent girls (n = 109) with a mean age of 17.6 (range 14.9-19.3 yr). Eighty percent were African-American and 20% were Caucasian. Results: Most girls reported that their parents had some contact (either in person or on the phone) with their boyfriends. Thirteen girls reported that their parents did not know their boyfriends well, 40 reported that their parents knew their boyfriends somewhat, and 56 reported that their parents knew their boyfriends well. Age, race, and sexual experience were not related to how well the parents knew the boyfriend. Girls who had been involved with their boyfriends longer, believed that their relationship would last longer, were more satisfied, were more likely to tell their boyfriends private information and were more likely to describe their parents as knowing their boyfriends well. These results provide an initial description of girls' perceptions of their parents' relationships with their boyfriends. It would be important to understand how to utilize the information regarding these parental-boyfriend relationships to further adolescent girls' development of healthy (both psychologically and physically) relationships. (author's)
Keywords:
OhioIndex page
Research Report
KAP Surveys
Cross Sectional Analysis
Longitudinal Studies
Adolescents, Female
Parents
Sexual Partners
Perception
Knowledge
Parental Involvement
Interpersonal Communication
Sexuality
Developed Countries
United States
North America
Americas
Surveys
Sampling Studies
Studies
Research Methodology
Adolescents
Youth
Age Factors
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Family Relationships
Family Characteristics
Family and Household
Sociocultural Factors
Sex Behavior
Behavior
Psychological Factors
Child Rearing
Communication
Personality