The association between father involvement and sexual risk behaviors among Black and White adolescent girls
Date
2019
Authors
Charles, Brenda, author
Coatsworth, Doug, advisor
Lucas-Thompson, Rachel, committee member
Black, Ray, committee member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
This study explored the importance of father involvement for adolescent girls, particularly in the context of sexual risk behaviors. Research is only beginning to explore the effects of fathers on development and the benefits to fathers being more involved with their children. Though there has been a plethora of research on the effects of maternal interactions, there has been less of a proliferation of research on fathers and their interactions with their children. Current research has begun to show an association between father involvement and sexual risk behaviors in adolescents. However, most of this research used a cross sectional design and very few explored racial comparisons in these associations. Using a sample of 2,252 adolescent girls, this study explored the association of father involvement with sexual risk behaviors in these girls. It also further explored the ability of father involvement in adolescence to predict sexual risk behaviors in emerging adulthood, using a longitudinal design. Results indicate that father involvement in adolescence is associated with sexual risk behaviors, particularly condom use and number of sexual partners, in adolescence. The results also indicate that father involvement in adolescence predicts sexual risk behaviors in emerging adulthood for girls. An involved father in adolescence predicted less number of sexual partners and more condom use for females in emerging adulthood. No racial differences were found, and possible contributing limitations were discussed.