Parental Influence and Teen Pregnancy (continued)

Overall risky behavior. Close parent-child relationships not only help protect young people from early sex and pregnancy, they also help teens avoid other such risky behaviors as violence, substance and alcohol use, and school failure.8

Parents are often in the dark. Many parents are not aware that their adolescent children have had sex. Only about a third of parents of sexually experienced 14-year-olds believe that their child has had sex.9 Half of parents of sexually experienced 8th to 11th graders are aware that their sons and daughters have started having sex.10

Dating and age differences. Research supports what common sense suggests: Two of the most powerful risk factors for early sex and pregnancy are, 1) close romantic attachments, and 2) significant age differences (three years or more) between partners. Young adolescents are particularly vulnerable. Romantic relationships between young teens, and one-on-one dating with an age difference of three years or more, significantly increase the risk of early sexual activity.11

Abuse and neglect. Young people who grow up in abusive families (physical, sexual, and emotional) are more likely to be sexually active and not to use contraception consistently,13 although there are limitations in the research on this topic.14 Evidence also suggests that a significant number of teen mothers are in violent, abusive, or coercive relationships just before, during, or after pregnancy.15

Abstinence and contraception. Public opinion shows support for both abstinence and contraception for young people. The overwhelming majority of adults and teens believe that young people should be given a very strong message to abstain from sex until they are at least out of high school. At the same time, most adults and teens believe that teens should be given more information about abstinence and contraception rather than one or the other.16

Boys and girls. Six out of ten teens (59 percent) believe that teen boys often receive the message that sex and pregnancy are no big deal.18

What it all means

The research presented here has clear implications for parents, policymakers, and those working with young people and parents.

Parent/Child relationships matter most of all. Parents who (1) clearly communicate their values and expectations to their children, (2) express their concerns and love for them early and often, and (3) exercise supervision — including their child’s selection of friends and role models — raise children who are more likely to avoid early sexual activity, pregnancy, and parenthood than those parents who do not. Research supports the conclusion that the overall strength and closeness of parent/child relationships seems to be the best protection of all.19

Talking is not enough. It is important for parents to discuss sex, love, and relationships directly with their children. Teens make it clear that they want to hear from their parents on these topics, even if they don’t always act like it. However, simply talking with their teens about the risks of early sex and pregnancy is not enough. Parents need to become heavily involved in their children’s lives in order to delay first sex, increase contraceptive use, or decrease the risk of pregnancy.20