1. Adolescent Self-Disclosure as a Protective Factor Against Subsequent Risky Sexual Behaviors: A 6-Year Longitudinal Study Amanda L. Hare & Joseph P. Allen

3. Introduction Why do adults worry about teen sex? Teen pregnancy (Lanctot & Smith, 2001) Sexually transmitted infections (Sandfort, Orr, Hirsch, & Santelli, 2008) Delinquency (Armour & Haynie, 2007) So many, so soon! (Center for Disease Control & Prevention, 2006)

4. Introduction When and where does adolescent sexual activity take place? (Cohen et al., 2002) When and where does adolescent sexual activity take place? (Cohen et al., 2002) In their parents’ homes In their parents’ homes On the weekdays, after On the weekdays, afterschool

5. Introduction Parental monitoring Parental monitoring Associated with less Associated with less Delinquency & antisocial behavior (Crouter, McDermod, McHale, & Perry-Jenkins, 1990) Delinquency & antisocial behavior (Crouter, McDermod, McHale, & Perry-Jenkins, 1990) Illegal substance use (Flannery, Vazsonyi, Torquati, & Fridrich, 1994) Illegal substance use (Flannery, Vazsonyi, Torquati, & Fridrich, 1994) Tobacco use (Biglan, Duncan, Ary, & Smolkowski, 1995) Tobacco use (Biglan, Duncan, Ary, & Smolkowski, 1995) Poor school performance (Crouter et al., 1990) Poor school performance (Crouter et al., 1990) Deviant friends (Dishion, Capaldi, Spracklen, & Li, 1995) Deviant friends (Dishion, Capaldi, Spracklen, & Li, 1995) Risky sexual activity (Miller, Forehand, & Kotchick, 1999) Risky sexual activity (Miller, Forehand, & Kotchick, 1999)

6. Introduction Parental knowledge (Kerr & Stattin, 2000) Parental knowledge (Kerr & Stattin, 2000) Child disclosure Child disclosure Parental solicitation Parental solicitation Parental control Parental control

7. Introduction Parental knowledge (Kerr & Stattin, 2000) Parental knowledge (Kerr & Stattin, 2000) Child disclosure Child disclosure Parental solicitation Parental solicitation Parental control Parental control Child disclosure protects against (Kerr & Stattin, 2000) Child disclosure protects against (Kerr & Stattin, 2000) Delinquency Delinquency School problems School problems Deviant friends Deviant friends But what about risky sexual activity? But what about risky sexual activity?

8. Method Participants Participants 121 adolescents (58 males, 63 females) 121 adolescents (58 males, 63 females) Racially & socioeconomically diverse Racially & socioeconomically diverse Mean age = 13.3 years at Time 1 Mean age = 13.3 years at Time 1

9. Measures Adolescent Disclosure Adolescent Disclosure Observation of Supportive Behavior Task (Allen, Hall, Insabella, Land, Marsh & Porter, 2001) Observation of Supportive Behavior Task (Allen, Hall, Insabella, Land, Marsh & Porter, 2001)

10. Measures Parental Control Parental Control Mother report on Childhood Report of Parenting Behavior (Schaefer, 1965) Mother report on Childhood Report of Parenting Behavior (Schaefer, 1965)

11. Measures Adolescent Delinquency Adolescent Delinquency Peer report on Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach, 1991) Peer report on Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach, 1991)

12. Measures Risky Sexual Behaviors Risky Sexual Behaviors Adolescent self-report of Adolescent self-report of Age of sexual debut Age of sexual debut Total number of sexual partners Total number of sexual partners Condoms use Condoms use

13. Hypothesis 1 Greater adolescent disclosure will have little to no association with subsequent delinquency and risky sexual behaviors.

14. Results Mother’s report of firm control at age 13 Adolescent reported # of sex partners at age 18 Adolescent reported age of sexual debut at age 18 Adolescent reported condom use at age 18 Peer report of adolescent delinquency at age 14

15. Results Mother’s report of firm control at age 13 Adolescent reported # of sex partners at age 18 Adolescent reported age of sexual debut at age 18 Adolescent reported condom use at age 18 Peer report of adolescent delinquency at age 14

16. Hypothesis 2 Greater parental control will be negatively associated with subsequent delinquency and risky sexual behaviors.

17. Results

18.  = -.16*

19. Results

20. Results  =.17*

21. Results

22.  = -.30*

23. Results

24. Results  =.30**

25. Summary Thus Far Consistent with previous literature (Kerr & Stattin, 2000), parental control alone may not be effective in preventing subsequent delinquency and risky sexual behaviors Consistent with previous literature (Kerr & Stattin, 2000), parental control alone may not be effective in preventing subsequent delinquency and risky sexual behaviors Adolescent disclosure is predictive of fewer subsequent delinquent and risky sexual behaviors Adolescent disclosure is predictive of fewer subsequent delinquent and risky sexual behaviors But why? But why?

26. Hypothesis 3 The link between adolescent disclosure and subsequent problem behaviors is mediated by adolescent autonomy.

27. Measures Adolescent Autonomy from Peers Adolescent Autonomy from Peers Observation of Autonomy & Relatedness Coding System (Allen, Hauser, Bell, McElhaney, & Tate, 1998) Observation of Autonomy & Relatedness Coding System (Allen, Hauser, Bell, McElhaney, & Tate, 1998)

28. Observed adolescent autonomy from peer at age 16 Observed adolescent disclosure to mom at age 13 Adolescent reported age of sexual debut at age 18  = ?  =.17* (direct)  = ? Note. Mediating role of teen autonomy from mom at age 16. Age, gender, and income included as covariates in all models.

29. Observed adolescent autonomy from peer at age 16 Observed adolescent disclosure to mom at age 13 Adolescent reported age of sexual debut at age 18  =.21*  =.17* (direct) Note. Mediating role of teen autonomy from mom at age 16. Age, gender and income included as covariates in all models.

30. Observed adolescent autonomy from peer at age 16 Observed adolescent disclosure to mom at age 13 Adolescent reported age of sexual debut at age 18  =.21*  =.22*  =.17* (direct) Note. Mediating role of teen autonomy from mom at age 16. Age, gender and income included as covariates in all models.

31. Observed adolescent autonomy from peer at age 16 Observed adolescent disclosure to mom at age 13 Adolescent reported age of sexual debut at age 18  =.21*  =.22*  =.17* (direct)  =.13 (after mediation) Note. Mediating role of teen autonomy from mom at age 16. Age, gender and income included as covariates in all models.

32. Discussion Autonomy from peers may mediate the link between adolescent disclosure and subsequent problem behaviors Autonomy from peers may mediate the link between adolescent disclosure and subsequent problem behaviors These findings are consistent with previous literature underscoring the importance of a quality parent-child communication in preventing risky sexual behaviors (Wilson & Donenberg, 2004) These findings are consistent with previous literature underscoring the importance of a quality parent-child communication in preventing risky sexual behaviors (Wilson & Donenberg, 2004) Future research should investigate avenues through which parents can help their children to feel comfortable sharing personal information Future research should investigate avenues through which parents can help their children to feel comfortable sharing personal information

33. Acknowledgments I’d like to thank my collaborators: I’d like to thank my collaborators: Joseph P. Allen Kathleen McElhaney Nell Manning Emily Marston Erin Miga Dave Szwedo Joanna Chango Megan Schad Jennifer HelisteMeredyth Evans Katy HigginsAmanda LeTard I would also like to thank the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development for funding awarded to Joseph P. Allen, Principal Investigator, (Grant # 9R01HD058305-11A1) to conduct and write-up this project. Copies of related papers are available at: WWW.TEENRESEARCH.ORG