Not Under My Roof: The Impact of Culture and Parent-Adolescent Interactions On Sexual Health

For American parents, teenage sex is something to be feared and forbidden, and sex is often a source of family conflict. In the Netherlands, where teenage pregnancies are far less frequent than in the United States, parents aim above all for family cohesiveness, often permitting older teenage couples to sleep together and providing them with contraceptives. Analysis of extensive interviews with parents and teens demonstrate ways family culture shapes not just sex but also alcohol consumption and parent-teen relationships. Such findings about the importance of strong communication, parenting bonds, and relationships are relevant to families around the globe.