Intergenerational Transmission of Communication About Sexual Health Topics: A Cross-Sectional Triad Study

Parent-child communication about sexual health is associated with reduced sexual risk taking in adolescents. However, there is little research on how sexual health communication is transmitted across generations. This study examined how comfort discussing sexual health differs across generations within a family and how these conversations are associated with social/emotional wellness. Data were collected from family triads (N = 132 triads) comprised of a grandparent, parent, and young adult (grand)child. Each participant completed a survey regarding parent/child sexual health communication and social/emotional wellness. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression in Stata 18, controlling for gender, age, marital status, and subjective socioeconomic status. Generally, young adults reported more parent/child sexual health communication than prior generations. When parents were comfortable discussing sexual health topics, young adults were more likely to report that their parents talked to them about sexual health. Parents and grandparents were more comfortable discussing sexual health topics if their own parents talked to them about sexual health. Young adults and grandparents reported better social/emotional wellness if their parents talked to them about sexual health during childhood. Our results indicate that it is more acceptable for parents to discuss sexual health with their children in recent generations. More parent-child discussions of sexual health may improve social/emotional wellness in future generations.