Learning About Sex from Different Sources: Implications for Sexual Attitudes, Sexual Knowledge, and Risky Sexual
Aya Shigeto1, Lawrence M Scheier2,3
1Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Nova Southeastern University, 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33314, USA. as1959@nova.edu.
Archives of Sexual Behavior
|June 14, 2024
Summary
Mothers’ influence on sexual learning correlates with conservative attitudes and less risky behavior, while friends/peers and online media enhance sexual knowledge among college students.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Primary socialization theory guides understanding of how social agents shape sexual development.
- Emerging adults navigate complex sexual learning landscapes influenced by family, peers, and digital media.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between primary socialization agents (mothers, fathers, friends/peers, online media) and emerging adults' sexual attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors.
- To investigate shifts in sexual learning patterns during the college transition.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study utilizing self-report data from 515 emerging adults in college.
- Latent-variable structural equation modeling to analyze relationships between socialization agents and sexual outcomes.
- Algebraic difference scores were used to assess changes in reliance on sexual learning sources.
Main Results:
- Learning about sex from mothers was associated with conservative sexual attitudes and lower risky sexual behavior.
- Sexual learning from friends/peers was linked to liberal attitudes and greater knowledge, with increased reliance during college showing stronger effects.
- Online media exposure was associated with increased sexual knowledge.
Conclusions:
- Different socialization agents play distinct roles in emerging adults' sexual development.
- Mothers provide a protective effect against risky sexual behavior, while peers significantly influence attitudes and knowledge.
- Sexual socialization is dynamic, particularly during the college years, with evolving influences from various agents.
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