Background: Parents of adolescents can play a significant role in promoting healthy sexual development and risk reduction, yet many parents are not sure how to communicate with their adolescents about sensitive issues. Worksites provide a promising environment in which to reach parents to help them learn how to address sexual matters with their adolescents. Objective: To learn whether parents would be receptive to participating in worksite parenting programs, what problems they have communicating with their adolescents, what topics parents would want covered in a parenting program aimed at sexual risk reduction, and whether employers would be interested in offering such programs. Design/Methods: We conducted 3 focus groups with parents of adolescents at their worksites and 7 key informant interviews with worksite executives (e.g., heads of human resources). We used systematic content analytic techniques to identify themes. Results: Parents were uniformly enthusiastic about the idea of a worksite parenting program. Communication problems included: not knowing how to talk to adolescents about sex-related topics, conflicting parenting and communication styles within a family, and adolescent reluctance to talk. Topics parents wanted covered included: adolescent development, dating, sex, abstinence, morals, and communication techniques. Worksite executives were also enthusiastic about providing programs. They described benefits (e.g., improved employee morale) and challenges (e.g. addressing employee concerns about confidentiality, etc.) to implementing programs. Conclusions: Worksite parenting programs are a promising way to reach parents of adolescents. Parents are interested in programs that address communication and sex-related issues. Worksites are interested in offering these programs; challenges are manageable.
Learning Objectives: 1. List 3 topics parents want covered in a program for parents of adolescents that focuses on adolescent sexual risk reduction. 2. Identify 2 benefits to worksites of providing worksite-based programs for parents of adolescents. 3. Identify 3 challenges to implementing worksite-based programs for parents of adolescents.
Keywords: Sexual Risk Behavior, Adolescents
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.