Child / Adolescent - Externalizing
The Protective Role of Quality Parent-Adolescent Relationships between Adolescent Self-Regulation and Sexual Deviancy.
Sara J. Conley, B.S.
Graduate Student
Cleveland State University
cleveland, Ohio
India J. Matthews, Other
Student Researcher
Cleveland State University
Bedford, Ohio
Elizabeth Goncy, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Cleveland State University
Cleveland, Ohio
The Protective Role of Quality Parent-Adolescent Relationships between Adolescent Self-Regulation and Sexual Deviancy. Sara J. Conley, India J. Matthews, & Elizabeth A. Goncy
Introduction: Self-regulation is the ability to control oneself and behaviors in a socially acceptable way (Moilanen et al., 2010). Previous research has established that maladaptive self-regulation skills are indicative of risky sexual behavior (Crockett et al., 2006). Further, there is an association between parent-child relationship quality and risky sexual behavior that is mediated by internalizing problems (Rogers et al., 2019). The current study focuses on the moderating effect of self-regulation and parent-child relationship quality on sexual deviancy. It was hypothesized that low self-regulation skills in addition to weak parent-child relationships leads to increased sexual deviancy.
Methods: In an online cross-sectional retrospective study (N=103, ages 14-19, 83% white, 62% female), adolescents completed self-report measures about sexually deviant behaviors, parent relationships, and self-regulation. Sexual deviancy was measured using items selected from the Youth Risk and Behavior Survey (CDC, 2013). Sexual deviancy was assessed over the span of a year by surveying age of sexual activity, sexual orientation, frequency of intimacy, number of partners, and use of contraception. Items from the Add Health questionnaire were compiled to measure adolescent parental support and communication (Sieving et al., 2000). Self-regulation was measured using the Fast Track Project measure of self-regulation (Bandy & Moore, 2010).
Results: Both parent support/communication and self-regulation significantly predicted sexual deviancy (F=3.41 (2.97), p=.037). Further, an interaction between parent support/communication and self-regulation existed in predicting sexual deviancy (F=6.31 (1,96), p=.014). The highest sexual deviancy occurred when there was both low parental support/communication and low self-regulation. In contrast, the lowest sexual deviancy occurred when there was high parental support/communication and high self-regulation. High parental support and low self-regulation showed the same sexual deviancy as high self-regulation and low parental support, having both self-regulation and parent support protects the most against sexual deviancy.
Discussion: This study supports our hypothesis that self-regulation and high-quality parent-adolescent relationships are important factors when protecting against sexual deviancy in adolescents. Therapies promoting self-regulation and enhanced parent-adolescent relationships would be beneficial for at-risk adolescence. This study is limited. Data collection occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have limited sexual activity among adolescents. Further, adolescents likely suffered from greater rates of internalizing disorders during the pandemic. Depressive symptoms of dysphoria could have enforced isolation and diminished sex drive for youth. Self-regulation could have been impaired due to increased internalizing behaviors and parent support/communication could have been affected due to forced isolation during shutdowns.