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| Effects of Motivational Speakers on Parent/Adolescent Dialogue |
| Tuesday, June 1, 2004 |
| 10:00 AM–10:20 AM |
| Berkeley |
| Area: EDC |
| Chair: Tina Vazin (Alabama State University) |
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| Effects of Motivational Speakers on Parent/Adolescent Dialogue |
| Domain: Applied Research |
| TINA VAZIN (Alabama State University) |
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| Abstract: Many parents report feeling uncomfortable talking with their adolescent children about matters regarding sexuality. They avoid initiating conversations related to sex or when their children ask direct questions, their responses are brief and to the point. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of motivational speakers on parents’ frequency of engaging in dialogue with their adolescent’s about sexual behavior. A baseline measure of the frequency of dialogue about sex between parent/adolescent dyads was determined. Half of the parents attended an event featuring a motivational speaker who lectured on the negative health, academic and economic consequences of adolescent’s engaging in early sexual activity. Following the event, all adolescents and parents were provided a diary to record occurrences of parent/adolescent dialogue about sex. The results showed that initially following the event, parents initiated a higher rate of dialogue about sex as well as attempted to sustain adolescent-initiated dialogue about sex. A three-week follow up showed that frequency of dialogue had returned to baseline levels. |
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