Communication with Adolescents

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nIntroduction

nAdolescents usually undergo intense social, physical and cognitive changes over a relative short period. In addition, adolescence is an essential stage of development of healthy lifestyle and behaviors (Eisenberg, et al, 2006). The transition behaviors increase the relational dimensions of communication that lead to gradual changes in the parent-adolescent relationship. Besides, parents experience significant life stage transitions on their own life (Sutton, et al, 2014). Adolescent can be a potential stage of misunderstanding between the parent and child. Children change their relationships with parents and in turn express complex and unfamiliar behaviors. Some adolescent express ambiguous behaviors hence parents may not clearly understand the course of their children behaviors (Beckett, et al, 2010). Therefore, the quality of parent-adolescent communication has a significant effect on the prevention of risky adolescent behaviors. Moreover, communication between adolescents and parents has essential implications for family and individual adjustments. Inadequate communication between parents and adolescents increases the risk of unwanted pregnancy, abortion, STIs and early initiation among adolescent.Adolescent Communication and Understanding

nFor effective communication between the parent and children, there should be a clear understanding. This is because understanding helps to create relational needs hence promoting more responsive communication thereby facilitating family and adolescent adjustment (Eisenberg, et al, 2006). In addition, parents who have more frequent, open and direct patterns of communication towards their children, have greater understanding of their teenagers relative to the parents whose communication is censured or circumspect (Coetzee, et al, 2014). This means that these parents reflect intuitive expectations of their children for better understanding and communication.

nMoreover, understanding adolescent is good for parent and families because it enhances mutual sensitivity, coordination and flexibility. This helps the parent to solve impending problems among the teenagers. In addition, it leads to positive adolescent self-concepts in the parent-child relationship (Beckett, et al, 2010). Furthermore, parents must acquire the essential features of parental adaptability and sensitivity to the individual needs of his or her child. Similarly, parents should use the strategy of reflection-enhancing communication that encourages teenagers to understand how their behaviors may psychologically affect others (Sutton, et al, 2014). This enhances communicative competence and pro-social behaviors.

nA successful parent-adolescent relationship can be enhanced through positive association between effective communication and understanding (Feldman, & Rosenthal, 2002). Therefore, there is greater understanding when adolescents and parents have more communicative relationship.Parent-child Communication about Sexuality

nParents assume a key responsibility as the adolescents primary sexuality educators. Adequate parent-child communication acts as a means to minimize risky sexual behaviors among adolescent children (Sutton, et al, 2014). Parents should have the ability to express their own belief, values and expectations about adolescent as part of communication. This is because in school, teachers are unable to customize their information to family diversity.

nMoreover, parents are best suited to offer appropriate information to an individual childs emotional, social, physical and psychological levels of development (Feldman, & Rosenthal, 2002). They are also able to guide their children on real life circumstances. The parent may offer more relevant messages that increase the childs receptivity to information provided which is potentially capable to influence their behaviors (Eisenberg, et al, 2006). Parents and teens require good communication about sexual information. Study finding indicate that there are no direct communication between parents and teens regarding reproductive health such as teen pregnancy. Parent rarely communicate with their children about contraception or sex which is associated with sexual risk-taking behaviors (Sutton, et al, 2014). Most of the teens engaging in sex have a negative attitude towards the use of condom or other methods of contraception hence increasing the rate of STIs infections.

nOther study findings suggest that associations between sexual behaviors and teenage depend on whether the parent or child had proper communication (Coetzee, et al, 2014). In addition, the study finding established that when parent talk with teens about birth control and sex it was associated with a greater likelihood that teens will be less sexual activity.

nHowever, parent-child communication may be influenced by other factors such as general parental communication style which have been linked to with adolescents risky sexual behaviors (Beckett, et al, 2010). Study findings show that teens who reported their parents communication style to be friendly, open or attentive were less likely to experience risky sexual behaviors relative to teens who indicated that their parents use dramatic and contentious styles (Coetzee, et al, 2014). Therefore, the style of communication determines the effectiveness of reduction of risky health behaviors.

nIn this regard, style of parent-teen communication involving the use of open and receptive features about sexual behaviors was associated with a reduction in teens risky sexual behaviors (Sutton, et al, 2014). This style involves frequent and spontaneous encouragement and conversations about sexuality between adolescents and parents (Feldman, & Rosenthal, 2002). However, communication style characterized as contentious and dramatic has been associated with an increase or no change in teens sexual risk-taking behaviors.

nPersonal characteristics of the parent may influence the aspect of parent-child communication and its relationship with sexual behavior (Beckett, et al, 2010). For instance, study findings suggest that more effective communication is highly likely in daughters than in sons (Eisenberg, et al, 2006). In addition, effectiveness of communication may also depend on whether the communication is opposite-sex or same-sex parent. There are also great variations of topics that parents use for effective communication about sexuality (Sutton, et al, 2014). These include abstinence or contraceptives options, implications of risky sexual behaviors and emotional, social and psychological aspects of sexuality.Timing of Parent-child Communication

nThe timing of parent-adolescent communication is an important factor in determining the initiation of sexual activity among adolescent. Stopping or changing an established sexual behavior is more difficult than influencing or preventing new behavior (Sutton, et al, 2014). Therefore, communication that take place before teens initiate a new sexual behavior is more effective than that which takes place after such behaviors have been established.

nStudy findings have suggested that parent-child communication about use of condoms before the teens sexual activity was linked to higher subsequent use of the condom (Feldman, & Rosenthal, 2002). However, when the same communication was carried out after one year of sexual activity it produced no behavior on condom use (Beckett, et al, 2010). Most parent wait to talk to their children until they are aware that they are engaging in sexual intercourse. Most study findings indicate that mothers begin their sexual-related communication after their daughters have indicated romantic relationships (Sutton, et al, 2014). Therefore, most parents increase or initiate communication after they are aware that their children are in need of, or ready for sex-related information.

nFurthermore, most parents are not fully informed about their teenagers romantic relationships because of lack of communication or lack of understanding of their children (Beckett, et al, 2010). Therefore, by the time a parent is fully aware that their child is involved in sexual activity, the child has already established behavior pattern. Hence, an opportunity for effective communication regarding sexuality has already elapsed.

nA study conducted by Coetzee, et al, (2014) suggested that parents who offer repeated communication about sex to their kids about sex were more likely to establish closer and open relationship with them. In addition, they were more likely to talk about sex issues with their parents as compared to adolescents whose communication with their parent was less repetitive (Feldman, & Rosenthal, 2002). Adolescents who reported previous conversations with parents on sex were seven times more likely to feel free to communicate with their partners about HIV/AIDS as compared to those who had no such conversations with their parents.

nFurthermore, reports have documented that adolescents who feel freely connected to their parents and their families were less likely to initiate sexual intercourse (Sutton, et al, 2014). When parents and families have good communication with their children youth report older age of first intercourse (Eisenberg, et al, 2006). Moreover, they show a lower frequency of sex during adolescence as compared to peers with poor communication. Inadequate communication affects attitude and behaviors. Study findings have shown that young people who lack parental love, warmth and caring were more likely to report sexual risk-taking behaviors.

nTwo studies by Beckett, et al, (2010) indicate that when parent make regular efforts to understand their childrens friends during teenage, the teenagers reported to have fewer sexual partners, and more use of contraception. Moreover, adolescents whose parents are confortable, open and confident in conversations about sexuality engage less in risky sexual behaviors. This shows that the quality of communication influences change of behavior related to sex.

nResearch findings indicate that parents are preferred source of information about sexuality and related issues as compared to nurses, teachers and community health centers. However, reports show that many parents face challenges to discuss with their children about sex, relationships and contraception (Eisenberg, et al, 2006). More mothers than fathers engage their children in some levels of sexuality communication.

nParents are the primary source of reproductive and sexual health communication for their children (Coetzee, et al, 2014). Nevertheless, few effective programs that would positively enable the parents to offer effective communications to their teenagers do not exist. More research is, therefore, required on skilled-based programs to support parent-child communication.

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nReferences

nBeckett, M. K., Elliott, M. N., Martino, S., Kanouse, D. E., Corona, R., Klein, D. J., & Schuster, M. A. (2010). Timing of parent and child communication about sexuality relative to children’s sexual behaviors. Pediatrics, 125(1), 34-42.

nCoetzee, J., Dietrich, J., Otwombe, K., Nkala, B., Khunwane, M., van der Watt, M., … & Gray, G. E. (2014). Predictors of parent–adolescent communication in post-apartheid South Africa: A protective factor in adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Journal of adolescence, 37(3), 313-324.

nEisenberg, M. E., Sieving, R. E., Bearinger, L. H., Swain, C., & Resnick, M. D. (2006). Parents communication with adolescents about sexual behavior: A missed opportunity for prevention?. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35(6), 893-902.

nFeldman, S., & Rosenthal, D. (2002). Talking sexuality (1st ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

nSutton, M. Y., Lasswell, S. M., Lanier, Y., & Miller, K. S. (2014). Impact of Parent-Child Communication Interventions on Sex Behaviors and Cognitive Outcomes for Black/African-American and Hispanic/Latino Youth: A Systematic Review, 1988–2012. Journal of Adolescent Health, 54(4), 369-384.