Contextual influence of Taiwanese adolescents' sexual attitudes and behavioral intent.
Angela Chia-Chen Chen, Torsten B Neilands, Shu-Min Chan and 1 others
PMID 26991765WHAT IT FOUND
Perceived peer sexual activity was the strongest reported influence linked to less unfavorable attitudes toward premarital sex and higher intent to have sex among 186 Taiwanese adolescents.
Parents and media were also linked, but cause was not tested.
Key findings
01Perceived peer sexual activity had the strongest total effect on intent to engage in sexual behavior.
02Adolescents' unfavorable sexual attitudes were associated with lower intent to engage in sexual behavior.
03Parental disapproval was associated with adolescents' unfavorable sexual attitudes, and through that with lower intent.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The survey was done at one time, so it cannot show that peer, parent, or media influence caused attitudes or intent. The sample was a convenience sample from two suburban middle schools, so it may not represent all Taiwanese adolescents. Only 4% reported being sexually active, so the outcome was intent to engage in sexual behavior in the next year, not actual behavior. Several key measures were single items or short scales, and the intent measure was one item. Gender differences were described, but the study could not test separate models for boys and girls because each gender group was small. The study did not measure other parenting factors such as parent-child relationship or monitoring, or how adolescents interpret media.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that peer sexual activity, parental disapproval, or media messages cause adolescents to intend sex. This was a cross-sectional survey of perceptions and intent in a convenience sample, not an intervention or behavior study.