Are Parent Experiences of Sexual Violence Related to their Communication with Children About Sexual Violence Topics?

Abstract

Introduction

Although experts suggest that parent–child sexual communication (PCSC) about sexual violence (SV) topics should begin in early childhood, additional research is needed on factors associated with PCSC about SV topics and the ages it occurs. Guided by protection motivation theory, we examined how parents’ experiences of SV and other parental factors are associated with past PCSC and intentions for future PCSC about SV topics.

Method

Utilizing data collected in December 2019–January 2020 from 561 US parents, we ran three path analyses to examine how parents’ SV experiences and other parental and child factors were associated with past PCSC about SV, child age at past PCSC about SV, and intentions for future PCSC about SV. We ran a multinomial regression to examine how these factors were associated with intended child age at future PCSC about SV.

Results

Experiencing SV and knowing someone who experienced SV was consistently related to past PCSC and increased intentions for future PCSC about SV topics. Mothers or genderqueer parents and LGBQA parents were more likely to have engaged in PCSC about SV topics at younger child ages. Parents with permissive sexual attitudes and SV experience intended to discuss SV topics at a younger age.

Conclusions

Parent SV experience and various parental factors were associated with past PCSC, future PCSC intentions, and child age at PCSC.

Policy Implications

There is a need for continued parent education on the importance of discussing SV topics, at what age to discuss SV topics, and how to discuss SV topics with children.