A new study conducted by New York University researchers founds more than mothers, fathers independently influence the sexual behavior of their teenage children.
Prior to this research, it was always stated that a child's sexual behavior is largely influenced by their mothers. A father's influence has always been neglected. However, this recent study conducted by researchers from New York University states that fathers directly and independently influence the sexual behavior, especially of their teenage children.
Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, Ph.D., M.P.H., from the Silver School of Social Work at New York University in New York City, and colleagues, through this research, analyzed the role of the paternal influence on children's risky sexual behavior.
The study included the reviewing of 13 studies published between 1980 and 2011 which targeted adolescents between 11-18 year olds. Researchers also focused on the paternal parenting process in previous studies conducted.
Guilamo-Ramos found compared a mother's influence, a father's impact is independently linked to adolescents sexual behavior. The study revealed that father-child communication regarding sex is directly linked to an adolescent's sexual behavior.
"Our review makes clear that fathers have the potential to uniquely influence adolescent sexual behavior, yet have been overlooked in family-based intervention development," the authors wrote. "We argue for greater research to identify potential mechanisms of father-specific influence that will support successful development of father-based interventions and expand the opportunity to support adolescent health and well-being."
Web MD provides suggestions to parents about how they can start discussing sex with their children. Some of the suggestions include:
* Starting young, many health experts say children become curious about body parts as young as three.
* Do not use pet names for body parts.
* Use current events and movies as an opportunity, for example the movie Juno, which discusses teenage pregnancy.
* Discuss different types of sex such as oral, anal and missionary.
* Don't leave anything out.
