| This study examined the effects of the relationship between parental monitoring, family structure, and sexual abuse on the onset of sexual activity for adolescents. It utilized longitudinal data from the LONGSCAN study for 12-year-old and 16-year-old children to determine whether parental monitoring, family structure, and sexual abuse influence the onset of sexual activity for adolescents. Control variables included ethnicity and household income. Pearson Chi Square tests of association were utilized to determine if either socioeconomic status or ethnicity were related to a child's status on sexual intercourse at ages 12 and 16. For each age group, a simultaneous binary logistical regression was conducted with status on sexual intercourse (yes/no) as the dependent variable at each age, and parental monitoring, family structure, and sexual abuse history as the independent variables. The combination of parental monitoring, family structure, and sexual abuse history was used to predict whether children at age 12 engaged in sexual intercourse. In terms of demographic variables, socioeconomic status did not predict age of intercourse for 12-year-olds; however, it did for 16-year-olds. At age 12 and 16, parental monitoring approached significance in uniquely predicting a child's status on sexual intercourse. At age 12 and 16, family structure did not uniquely predict a child's status on sexual intercourse. At age 12, a child's status on sexual abuse positively and significantly predicted his or her engagement in sexual intercourse, but this was not the case for the 16-year-old group. The findings highlight the need for increased parental monitoring, especially of adolescents approaching the age of 16. The findings suggest a need for risk reduction and prevention programs geared toward providing psychoeducation about healthy relationships and sexuality specifically for adolescents from families with less parental monitoring. |
