Parenting Styles and Adolescent Sexuality

Parenting Styles and Adolescent Sexuality

Consider numerous possible concerns when an adolescent engages in early sexual activity. Unplanned pregnancies, STIs, emotional and psychological repercussions, effects on education and future possibilities, difficulties with peer pressure, and social stigma are a few of these hazards. The well-being and decision-making of a child can be significantly impacted by how parents react in such circumstances. This essay looks at the possible dangers of Sally engaging in sexual activity and how parenting philosophies, including authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive, would react to her situation.

Potential Risks of Sexual Involvement for Sally

Sally runs several possible hazards if she engages in sexual activity. The most immediate danger is an unwanted pregnancy, which might interfere with her academic objectives, restrict her employment options, and create social and financial hardships. Additionally, she risks picking up STIs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, HPV, and HIV/AIDS, if she engages in sexual activity without wearing protection. Early sexual activity can also have detrimental emotional and psychological effects, such as regret, remorse, anxiety, and low self-esteem (Waliyanti & Amrina, 2022). It might affect her schooling and career chances, with possible repercussions like diminished academic performance and decreased attention to studies. In addition, Sally can experience peer pressure and societal stigma because of her sexual behaviour, which could harm her self-esteem and general well-being.

How Parents with Authoritative, Authoritarian, and Permissive Parenting Styles Would react to Sally

An authoritative parenting approach would be used to respond to Sally by establishing open and honest communication, educating her about the dangers of early sexual involvement, and emphasizing the value of making wise decisions and maintaining healthy relationships. They would encourage her independence and independent thought while establishing clear boundaries and expectations. Authoritarian parents would likely respond by enforcing stringent guidelines and regulations, highlighting the potential drawbacks of sexual engagement, and trying to control behaviour through sanctions or close observation(Wang et al., 2021). On the other hand, parents with a permissive parenting style may avoid addressing the issue directly, provide limited guidance, or may be hesitant to set boundaries, thus potentially leaving Sally without clear guidance on the risks and responsibilities associated with early sexual involvement.

Concrete Instances of Limits-Enforcing Parenting Techniques for Sally

First of all, one example of a specific authoritative parenting strategy involves establishing a clear curfew and emphasizing its benefits. These techniques also include restrictions for Sally and consequences if restrictions are disobeyed. Sally’s rights might be temporarily restricted if she frequently violates her curfew, such as denying her access to her phone or limiting her social engagements until she proves her ability to follow the established curfew. These guidelines and punishments are explained in an encouraging and compliant way to instill responsibility and accountability rather than restrict or penalize her conduct.

How to React Appropriately If Sally Were My Daughter

If Sally were my daughter, I would practice authoritative parenting by encouraging free-flowing dialogue without passing judgment. Building a strong rapport with her and imparting thorough knowledge about the dangers and obligations of early sexual activity would be my top priorities. I would encourage her independence and decision-making abilities while still setting up clear guidelines and expectations, including a reasonable curfew. There would be consequences for exceeding the boundaries, but the focus would be on growth and learning rather than punishment. Ultimately, I would like to give Sally the tools she needs to navigate her adolescence confidently, put her needs first, and build healthy connections.

Conclusion

The best parental strategy for dealing with Sally’s prospective sexual activity would be one that prioritizes open communication, thorough teaching, distinct limits, and encouraging consequences. Parents can equip their teenage children to negotiate the risks connected to early sexual activity by encouraging trust, autonomy, and responsible decision-making. As they assist their children in developing a healthy knowledge of relationships, sexual health, and the significance of their general well-being, parents must offer advice, support, and understanding.

References

Waliyanti, E., & Amrina, Y. (2022). Adolescents’ Perception of Risky Sexual Behavior: An Impact in Rural Area. Jurnal Aisyah : Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan, 7(S2), 57–64. https://doi.org/10.30604/jika.v7is2.1406

Wang, G., Zhao, J., Van Kleek, M., & Shadbolt, N. (2021). Protection or Punishment? Relating the Design Space of Parental Control Apps and Perceptions about Them to Support Parenting for Online Safety. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 5(CSCW2), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1145/3476084

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In the United States, the pregnancy rate has been steadily declining over the past decade; however, the U.S. teen pregnancy rate is still among the highest in Western societies (CDC, 2021). There are other risks besides teen pregnancy associated with early sexual behaviour, including sexually transmitted infections and negative mental health outcomes.

Parenting Styles and Adolescent Sexuality

Consider the following hypothetical example:

Sally is your daughter who is in her early teens. She has been a good student. She has had a close relationship with you and a good relationship with her dad. She is currently interested in politics and is on the student council. She is active in many school events and is expected by all of the adults in her life to go to college. As her mother, you begin to suspect that she may be engaging in sexual activity. She stays out later than her curfew, and she has a steady boyfriend. There have been a few times when you know she had the opportunity for sexual activity. You are an authoritative parent. You want her to know about pregnancy risks and sexually transmitted diseases, and you are concerned about her early development of relationships. You also are aware that in today’s world, teens do not really date as in previous generations. They tend to engage in serial monogamy. As an authoritative parent, what would you do? What would you do if you were an authoritarian or permissive parent?

Reference

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). About teen pregnancy. Reproductive health: Teen pregnancy. https://www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/about/index.htm

For this Assignment, you will explore known factors that delay the onset of intercourse and prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

To prepare:

Review the hypothetical example from the lead-in.
Review Chapters 14, 15, and 16 in your course text.
Review the article, “Stakeholder Education for Community-Wide Health Initiatives: A Focus on Teen Pregnancy Prevention.”
Think about Baumrind’s parenting styles. How might authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parents respond differently to the hypothetical example of Sally?
Consider risks of sexual involvement including (but not limited to) pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
The Assignment (2–3 pages):

Keeping the above example in mind, as well as other factors that are known to delay the onset of intercourse and prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases:

Explain the potential risks of sexual involvement for Sally if, in fact, she is sexually active.
Explain how parents, with each of the three parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive), would respond to Sally.
Provide specific examples of parenting behaviours that include limits for Sally and consequences if the limits are not followed.
Conclude by explaining your own thoughts on how to best respond if Sally was your daughter.
Note: Support the responses within your Assignment with evidence from the course Learning Resources. Provide a Reference List of the resources you used for this assignment. Title page and Reference List do not count toward the 2- to 3-page paper length. Use APA style for in-text citations and references.

Resources:

Course Text

Feldman, R. S. (2022). Child development (9th ed.). Pearson.

Chapter 14, “Physical Development in Adolescence”
In this chapter, you will learn about physical development during adolescence including puberty, brain maturation, and sexual development. Special topics include threats to well-being, such as stress, substance use, and accidental death.

Chapter 15, “Cognitive Development in Adolescence”
In this chapter, you will learn about cognition during adolescence and explore the theories of Piaget and Vygotsky. Information processing and scientific reasoning will be covered, as well as the adolescent in school. Special topics include gender and racial bias in school.

Chapter 16, “Social and Personality Development in Adolescence”
In this chapter, you will learn about social/emotional development during adolescence, including identity, sexuality, peer and romantic relationships, and parenting. Erikson’s theory of development will also be discussed. Special topics include religion, spirituality, and ethnic and racial differences.
Articles

Finley, C., Suellentrop, K., Griesse, R., House, L. D., & Brittain, A. (2018). Stakeholder education for community-wide health initiatives: A focus on teen pregnancy prevention links to an external site.. Health Promotion Practice, 19(1), 38–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839917734521

Roberts, K. (2014, February 26). The psychology of begging to be followed on TwitterLinks to an external site.. The Atlantic. http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/02/the-psychology-of-begging-to-be-followed-on-twitter/283947/Links to an external site.
Note: This article introduces readers to the phenomenon of “addictive tweeting”—the repetitive action taken by some people to win the attention of others.

Smith, P., Kang, C., Woo, E., Zhong, R., & Satariano, A. (2021, December 13). The furor over FacebookLinks to an external site.. The New York Times Upfront, 154(6), 6–9.
Writing Resources: Refer to the Writing Resources section found in the Start Here section of your classroom for help with APA 7.

Walden University, LLC. (2016a). Changes in the adolescent brain [Video]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com/
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 18 minutes.
In this video, an educational consultant discusses the many changes to the brain that occur during the period of adolescence.
Walden University, LLC. (2016c). Time-lapse images of the brain [Video]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com/
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 2 minutes.
A time-lapse video of the actual brain maturation process from childhood to adolescence, highlighting key areas of development.