TeachME Professional Development

Talking to Adolescents about Sex and Teen Pregnancy

Does Talking with Teens About Sex Make a Difference?

1. In national surveys conducted by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, teens report that their parents have the greatest influence over their decisions about sex, more than friends, siblings, or the media.

A. True B. False

2. Parents should be aware that important aspects of communication can have an impact on teen sexual behavior, including what is said, how it is said, how often it is said, and:

A. Who initiates the conversation B. Level of communication on other topics C. How much teens feel cared for and understood by their parents D. How teens react to the subject matter

What Topics Should Parents Discuss with Their Teens?

3. It's important that parental conversations with teens not focus just on the consequences of risky sexual behaviors, but also focus on each of the following EXCEPT:

A. Talking about healthy, respectful relationships B. Discussing the parent's own early sexual relationships if the teen has questions C. Communicating the parental expectations for the teen about relationships and sex D. Providing factual information about ways to prevent HIV, STDs, and pregnancy

Communication Within Hispanic Families-Overview

4. Despite dramatic declines in the U.S. teen pregnancy rate in recent years, the rate for Hispanics continues to be among the highest, with recent estimates suggesting that approximately one-third of Hispanic females experience at least one pregnancy before the age of 21.

A. True B. False

Key Messages: What Parents are Saying and What Teens are Hearing

5. Teens report that when their parents simply tell them 'Don't have sex' or 'Wait until you're married,' but fail to have meaningful conversations, it is hard for them to be open about dating, sex, and contraception, whether they are sexually active or not.

A. True B. False

Barriers and Facilitators to Communication

6. According to teens, barriers to open communication with parents include the feeling that parents are disconnected or not strict enough, they try to initiate conversations too early and teens are not ready, or they assume that if teens wanted to talk about it, they would.

A. True B. False

Facilitators: What Makes Communication Easier?

7. Parents and teens both report that building trust with each other is a critical factor in being able to communicate openly and honestly, and some teens feel that speaking frequently with parents about more mundane issues helps to build the trust necessary to open up about more difficult topics.

A. True B. False

Implications for Programs

8. Young people value open dialogue with parents, even if they are not engaged in such dialogues, and teens themselves suggest that __________________________ might be a particularly effective way to bring up uncomfortable topics.

A. Communicating by texting or other electronic means B. Providing factual and medically accurate information C. Initiating the conversation with the help of a health professional D. Using "real-life" examples


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