Is Two Always Better Than One? Exploring Family Structure Differences in Adolescent Risky Sex

• In Event: 1283 - Section on the Sociology of the Family Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 01. Childhood and Adolescence

Abstract

Adolescent risky sexual behaviors such as early sexual debut, low rates of condom use, and high rates of partner change are associated with a number of negative health and social outcomes including contracting sexual transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. Utilizing a sample of 529 African American adolescents, this study aimed to evaluate if variation in adolescent risky sexual behavior by family structure can be explained by differences in quality of parenting by certain types of caregivers. Three theoretical perspectives were used to interpret findings: the two-caregiver perspective, the biological perspective and the marriage perspective. Findings largely demonstrated support for a biological perspective with stepfathers being less responsive and demanding than fathers and in certain cases, relatives. Results indicated only partial support for a two-caregiver perspective with only female adolescents reporting single mothers to be less demanding than those in mother-father homes. Findings widely refuted the marriage perspective, with adolescents’ reports of mother’s parenting not significantly differing between mother-stepfather, and mother-relative or single-mother households. Variation in parenting fully explained differences in risky sexual behavior for males. Yet family structure differences persisted for females, with females in mother step-father homes continually engaging in greater mean risky sexual behavior than those in mother-father households even after accounting for parental responsiveness and demandingness. Implications for prevention and intervention are discussed.

Authors

• Megan Elizabeth Steele, University of Georgia

• Leslie Gordon Simons, University of Georgia