First Advisor

Lauren Frank

Term of Graduation

Summer 2025

Date of Publication

6-12-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Communication

Department

Communication

Language

English

Subjects

Agency and communion, Gender role beliefs, Parent-child sexual communication, Sex education

Physical Description

1 online resource (iv, 68 pages)

Abstract

Parent-child sexual communication remains a fruitful avenue to increase safe sex behaviors, which are currently in decline by today's adolescents. Historically, mothers have reported engaging in parent-child sexual communication more than fathers do. Previous scholarship suggests this difference could be due to traditional gender role beliefs or conflicts with traditionally masculine attributes. Using social cognitive theory and social role theory, this study conducted a cross-sectional survey on parents of children aged 9 through 16. Positive relationships existed between outcome expectations, self-efficacy, and level of detail in sexual and reproductive health conversations between parents and children. Though no statistical difference was found between mothers' and fathers' reported outcome expectations, self-efficacy, and level of detail, the study did find positive correlations between agency and communion and all factors. Inconclusive relationships existed between traditional gender role beliefs and factors of parent-child sexual communication. Implications for future research and practical applications are discussed.

Rights

© Alexandra Nicole Henrici

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44190

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