Sex Talks With Teens Help, Linked To Less Risky Behavior, Says Study

Parents of teenagers might be dreading the big sex talk with their kids, but a study revealed that it's actually good to initiate the conversation. 

"Communicating about sex can be uncomfortable for both parents and teens, but these conversations are a critical component of helping teens make safe and healthy decisions," said Laura Widman, the research leader of a study about contraception and condom, according to Health Day.

Some parents hesitate talking about sex with their teenagers, believing it could only make the kids sexually active, but the experts' take on this is different. "We have so much evidence that it does the opposite of that," said Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos via Health Day. "Parents who are addressing this issue, those teens are the ones least likely to have sex and the most likely, if they are having sex, to use protection," he said.

Over 25,000 teens' data were reviewed among 52 case studies and the researchers looked into links between communication with parents and the teenager's behavior towards sex. Aside from confirming protection or contraception use among teens who have had the talk with their parents, the researchers saw that the impact is bigger on girls who have had these conversations with their moms more, according to Reuters.

"We know that parents tend to communicate more frequently with girls than with boys," said Widman. "We also know that the messages parents share are more likely to stress the negative consequences of sexual activity, like pregnancy, when they talk with their daughters."

As this is the case, the experts suggest for parents of teenage boys to be more vocal about sex conversations, too. "For example, parents could more clearly discuss the consequences of teen pregnancy for boys and stress the importance of clear communication and consent between partners. Parents may also challenge the predominant cultural messages many boys receive that they should always be ready for sex," said Widman.

Content of a parent's discussion with the kids also carries some influence. To a point, it could result in teens delaying their sexual activity. This is crucial because teens today are faced with problems like teen pregnancy, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, which should've been prevented. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, teen pregnancy rates in the United States have declined in recent years but the number is still substantial for an industrialized nation.

The said study was published on JAMA Pediatrics.