| The purpose of this study was to investigate intergenerational patterns of sexual risk by determining the relationship between adolescent and maternal sexual risk (when mothers were adolescents themselves). In doing so, this study addressed the following questions: (1) Do intergenerational patterns of sexual risk exist between maternal and adolescent sexual risk? (2) Does the intergenerational relationship between maternal and adolescent sexual risk differ for male adolescents? (3) Does parent-adolescent sexual communication moderate the relationship between maternal and adolescent sexual risk? Methods: Using secondary data from two National Longitudinal Studies (NLS), a series of analyses were to determine the relationship between maternal and adolescent sexual risk and the role of parent-adolescent sexual communication among a sample of 108 mother-child dyads. Results: Logistic regressions revealed that maternal variables (ever had sex, age of sexual initiation, birth control use, ever been pregnant, and alcohol/drug use) predicted all male adolescent sexual risk variables (ever had sex, age of sexual initiation, birth control use, ever been pregnant, and alcohol/drug use). For females, however mothers' birth control use did not predict adolescent ever having sex and mothers ever being pregnant did not predict adolescent ever having sex or adolescent birth control use. Moderated multiple regression revealed that parent-adolescent sexual communication is a moderator for the relationship between maternal age of sexual initiation and adolescent alcohol/drug use. Conclusions: Maternal sexual risk may predict their adolescent children's sexual risk. Parent-adolescent sexual communication moderates the relationship between maternal and adolescent sexual risk. These findings have major implications for including parents in programs aimed at reducing adolescent sexual risk and for extending research to further examine intergenerational patterns of sexual risk. |
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