Is Perceived Parental Monitoring Associated with Sexual Risk Behaviors of Young Black Males?

OBJECTIVE

This study determined whether perceived parental monitoring (PPM) is associated with any of twelve selected outcomes related to sexual risk behaviors of young Black males (YBM).

METHODS

Recruitment occurred in clinics diagnosing and treating sexually transmitted infections. YBM living with a parent or guardian (N = 324) were administered a 9-item scale assessing level of PPM. The obtained range was 10 - 45, with higher scores representing more frequent monitoring.

RESULTS

The mean was 29.3 (sd=7.0). Eight of the twelve outcomes had significant associations with PPM (all in a direction indicating a protective effect). Of these eight, five retained significance in age-adjusted models were ever causing a pregnancy, discussing pregnancy prevention, safer sex, and condom use with sex partners, and using a condom during the last act of penile-vaginal sex.

CONCLUSION

Monitoring by a parent figure may be partly protective against conceiving a pregnancy for Black males 15-23 years of age.