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ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among individual factors, parental factors, involvement in activities, and adolescent attitudes regarding sex (the outcome variable). We suggest that Positive Youth Development (PYD) research and programming should include promoting healthy sexuality as an important developmental outcome for youth. PYD philosophy and theory, bioecological theory (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 1998), and identity development theory (Erikson, 1983, 1968; Marcia, 1980, 1993) provided the foundation for this study and were used to make the connections between PYD, adolescent sexuality (including attitudes and behavior), and aspects of the parent-adolescent relationship. Both self-esteem and sexual experience were significant predictors of attitudes regarding sex, but overall, parents contributed the most influence on the outcome variable. (It should be noted, however, that parental influence was the only factor that was a significant predictor.) Only one of the two involvements in activities variables was a significant predictor of attitudes regarding sex.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS STUDY
PYD theory and literature has tended to focus on outcomes such as citizenship, leadership, altruism, and initiative (Larson, 2000; Scales, Benson, Leffert, & Blyth, 2000). While these outcomes are important, it seems reasonable to address a broader array of influences on and positive outcomes of adolescent development. Adolescents are dealing with identity exploration and formation in this busy period of development. Physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes must be navigated during this stage of growth and maturity. Puberty facilitates this developmental stage and has complex ramifications throughout. Although adults in American society usually deal with young persons' sexuality by trying to suppress or ignore it (Katchadourian, 1990), adolescents are bombarded with messages regarding sexuality and what is expected of them as sexual beings. However, these messages often are contradictory, especially in terms of what youth hear and see in the media, from their parents and peers, from religious teachings, and from society in general. Katchadourian (1990) suggests a balanced view of adolescent sexuality.
To begin with, the emergence of sexual behavior in adolescence may have to be accepted now as a part of the normal process of becoming an adult physically and psychosocially. Therefore, adolescent sexuality as such cannot reasonably be seen anymore as a "problem." It becomes a problem only when sexual behaviors lead to undesirable...