Parent-child communication about substance use, puberty, sex, and social media use among Hispanic parents and pre-adolescent children.

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE: Previous research has noted that Hispanic pre-adolescents may be at an increased probability for engagement in risk-taking behaviors. The purpose of this study was to explore parent-child communication among Hispanic parents and 4th-6th grade children related to substance use, puberty, sex, and social media use. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive design was used to examine Hispanic parents'/caregivers' communication with their children about substance use behaviors, pubertal developments, engagement in sexual risk behaviors, and social media use. The study included two components: four focus groups consisting of 23 children; five focus groups and one interview consisting of 24 adults. All were conducted until data saturation was reached. Parents and pre-adolescents were interviewed separately. Interviews with parents and pre-adolescents were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using content analysis techniques. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: The themes that emerged from the interviews were about children's feelings, parents' feelings, communication messages that children received from their parents, and information parents provided to their children during parent-child communication. The results indicate discrepancies between information that parents provided and information that the pre-adolescents reported. The results have implications for healthcare providers in that parents need to be better educated on communicating effectively with their pre-adolescents about risk-taking behaviors. Healthcare providers may help facilitate parent-child communication with Hispanic families. More research is needed to develop intervention programs for Hispanic parents to learn how to effectively communicate with their pre-adolescent children in a developmentally appropriate manner.

Cultural Influences on Hispanic Mother-Daughter Communication About Sex.

INTRODUCTION: Hispanic adolescents are at high risk of engaging in sexual risk-taking behaviors. Parent-child communication protects against such behaviors. Among Hispanic families, it is critical to explore how cultural characteristics influence mothers-daughter communication about sex. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how cultural values influence mothers' communication about sex with their early adolescent Hispanic daughters. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-one Hispanic mothers of seventh-grade daughters participated in this focus group study. Directed content analysis was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Four Hispanic cultural values (familismo, machismo, marianismo, and respeto) and how each value influences mother-daughter communication about sex were identified. While mothers want to protect their daughters, there are multiple cultural norms that made it challenging for them to have critical conversations. DISCUSSION: The study informs researchers and clinicians how to facilitate parent-child conversations about sex and to equip parents to teach their children how to avoid engaging in sexual risk-taking behaviors.

Hispanic Mother-Daughter Communication About the Risks of Sex, Drugs, and Alcohol: Influences and the Strategies Mothers Use.

PURPOSE: U.S. Hispanic adolescents are at risk for negative health outcomes due to risk-taking behaviors involving sex, drugs, and alcohol. Mother-daughter communication can reduce these risk-taking behaviors and reinforce parents' expectations. The purpose of this study was to explore mothers' descriptions of their communication about risk-taking behaviors with their early adolescent Hispanic daughters. DESIGN AND METHODS: This qualitative descriptive study involved focus groups with 21 Hispanic mothers of 7th grade (12-14 years old) girls. Conventional content analysis was conducted to identify the strategies they used during these conversations. RESULTS: Strategies mothers used included warning, focusing on negative consequences, creating opportunities to express maternal expectations, and stressing the importance of positive influences. Communication was also influenced by daughters' physical development and social media. CONCLUSIONS: The mothers were concerned about their daughters' exposure to risk-taking behaviors but were unsure about how to talk to their daughters about how to avoid them, particularly regarding topics related to sex. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Our study results have implications on how to facilitate parent-child conversations about risk-taking behaviors and to equip mothers and parents to teach their children how to avoid engaging in these behaviors.