Amanda L. Hare & Joseph P. Allen

1. Adolescent Self-Disclosure as a Protective Factor AgainstSubsequent Risky Sexual Behaviors: A 6-Year Longitudinal Study Amanda L. Hare & Joseph P. Allen

3. Introduction • Why do adults worry about teen sex? • Teen pregnancy (Lanctot & Smith, 2001) • Sexually transmitted infections (Sandfort, Orr, Hirsch, & Santelli, 2008) • Delinquency (Armour & Haynie, 2007) • So many, so soon! (Center for Disease Control & Prevention, 2006)

4. Introduction • When and where does adolescent sexual activity take place? (Cohen et al., 2002) • In their parents’ homes • On the weekdays, after school

5. Introduction • Parental monitoring • Associated with less • Delinquency & antisocial behavior (Crouter, McDermod, McHale, & Perry-Jenkins, 1990) • Illegal substance use (Flannery, Vazsonyi, Torquati, & Fridrich, 1994) • Tobacco use (Biglan, Duncan, Ary, & Smolkowski, 1995) • Poor school performance (Crouter et al., 1990) • Deviant friends (Dishion, Capaldi, Spracklen, & Li, 1995) • Risky sexual activity (Miller, Forehand, & Kotchick, 1999)

6. Introduction • Parental knowledge (Kerr & Stattin, 2000) • Child disclosure • Parental solicitation • Parental control

7. Introduction Parental knowledge (Kerr & Stattin, 2000) Child disclosure Parental solicitation Parental control Child disclosure protects against (Kerr & Stattin, 2000) Delinquency School problems Deviant friends But what about risky sexual activity?

8. Method • Participants • 121 adolescents (58 males, 63 females) • Racially & socioeconomically diverse • Mean age = 13.3 years at Time 1

9. Measures • Adolescent Disclosure • Observation of Supportive Behavior Task (Allen, Hall, Insabella, Land, Marsh & Porter, 2001)

10. Measures • Parental Control • Mother report on Childhood Report of Parenting Behavior (Schaefer, 1965)

11. Measures Adolescent Delinquency Peer report on Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach, 1991)

12. Measures • Risky Sexual Behaviors • Adolescent self-report of • Age of sexual debut • Total number of sexual partners • Condoms use

13. Hypothesis 1 Greater adolescent disclosure will have little to no association with subsequent delinquency and risky sexual behaviors.

14. Results Peer report of adolescent delinquency at age 14 Adolescent reported age of sexual debut at age 18 Mother’s report of firm control at age 13 Adolescent reported # of sex partners at age 18 Adolescent reported condom use at age 18

15. Results Peer report of adolescent delinquency at age 14 Adolescent reported age of sexual debut at age 18 Mother’s report of firm control at age 13 Adolescent reported # of sex partners at age 18 Adolescent reported condom use at age 18

16. Hypothesis 2 Greater parental control will be negatively associated with subsequent delinquency and risky sexual behaviors.

17. Results

18. Results  = -.16*

19. Results

20. Results  = .17*

21. Results

22. Results  = -.30*

23. Results

24. Results  = .30**

25. Summary Thus Far • Consistent with previous literature (Kerr & Stattin, 2000), parental control alone may not be effective in preventing subsequent delinquency and risky sexual behaviors • Adolescent disclosure is predictive of fewer subsequent delinquent and risky sexual behaviors • But why?

26. Hypothesis 3 The link between adolescent disclosure and subsequent problem behaviors is mediated by adolescent autonomy.

27. Measures • Adolescent Autonomy from Peers • Observation of Autonomy & Relatedness Coding System (Allen, Hauser, Bell, McElhaney, & Tate, 1998)

28. Observed adolescent autonomy from peer at age 16 = ? = ? Observed adolescent disclosure to mom at age 13 Adolescent reported age of sexual debut at age 18 =.17* (direct) = ? Note. Mediating role of teen autonomy from mom at age 16. Age, gender, and income included as covariates in all models.

29. Observed adolescent autonomy from peer at age 16 =.21* Observed adolescent disclosure to mom at age 13 Adolescent reported age of sexual debut at age 18 =.17* (direct) Note. Mediating role of teen autonomy from mom at age 16. Age, gender and income included as covariates in all models.

30. Observed adolescent autonomy from peer at age 16 =.22* =.21* Observed adolescent disclosure to mom at age 13 Adolescent reported age of sexual debut at age 18 =.17* (direct) Note. Mediating role of teen autonomy from mom at age 16. Age, gender and income included as covariates in all models.

31. Observed adolescent autonomy from peer at age 16 =.22* =.21* Observed adolescent disclosure to mom at age 13 Adolescent reported age of sexual debut at age 18 =.17* (direct) =.13 (after mediation) Note. Mediating role of teen autonomy from mom at age 16. Age, gender and income included as covariates in all models.

32. Discussion • Autonomy from peers may mediate the link between adolescent disclosure and subsequent problem behaviors • These findings are consistent with previous literature underscoring the importance of a quality parent-child communication in preventing risky sexual behaviors (Wilson & Donenberg, 2004) • Future research should investigate avenues through which parents can help their children to feel comfortable sharing personal information

33. Acknowledgments • I’d like to thank my collaborators: Joseph P. Allen Kathleen McElhaney Nell Manning Emily Marston Erin Miga Dave Szwedo Joanna Chango Megan Schad Jennifer Heliste Meredyth Evans Katy Higgins Amanda LeTard • I would also like to thank the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development for funding awarded to Joseph P. Allen, Principal Investigator, (Grant # 9R01HD058305-11A1) to conduct and write-up this project. Copies of related papers are available at:WWW.TEENRESEARCH.ORG