Validation of a Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale for Use in STD/HIV Prevention Interventions
- 29 June 2007
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Health Education & Behavior
- Vol. 35 (3), 332-345
- https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198106293524
Abstract
This study reports on the validation of a scale to assess adolescent girls' frequency of sexual communication with their parents. The Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale (PACS) was administered to 522 African American female adolescents ranging in age from 14 to 18. The PACS demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (across multiple administrations) and acceptable test-retest reliability over a 12-month follow-up period. Concurrently, scores on the PACS were correlated with frequency of sexual communication with partner, sexual communication self-efficacy (boyfriend), perceived parental knowledge, family support, depression, and condom use with steady male sex partners. Prospectively, baseline PACS scores were correlated with frequency of sexual communication with partner and condom use. The present investigation indicates that the PACS is a reliable and valid measure of frequency of sexual communication between female adolescents and their parents. Utility of the PACS for researchers and practitioners is discussed.This publication has 26 references indexed in Scilit:
- Evaluation of the “parents as primary sexuality educators” programJournal of Adolescent Health, 2003
- The Influence of Sexual Risk Communication Between Parents and Daughters on Sexual Risk Behaviors*Family Relations, 2002
- Adolescent Sexuality and Parent‐Adolescent Processes: Promoting Healthy Teen Choices*Family Relations, 2000
- Parent-Adolescent Discussions about Sex and CondomsJournal of Adolescent Research, 2000
- Direct and Nondirect Communication of Maternal Beliefs to Adolescents: Adolescent Motivations for Premarital Sexual Activity1Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 1999
- Patterns of Parent-Teen Sexual Risk Communication: Implications for InterventionFamily Relations, 1998
- A comparison of various measures of family sexual communication: Psychometric properties, validity, and Behavioral CorrelatesThe Journal of Sex Research, 1993
- Characteristics of Adolescents Who Have Attempted to Avoid HIV and Who Have Communicated with Parents About SexJournal of Adolescent Research, 1993
- Defensive Communication Climate as a Barrier to Sex Education in the HomeFamily Relations, 1986
- Mother-Daughter Communication about SexFamily Relations, 1980