How Family Communication Patterns and Family Sexual Communication Impact Adolescents' and ...

487 Pages·2012·1.9 MB·English

Let’s Talk about Sex: How Family Communication Patterns and Family Sexual
Communication Impact Adolescents’ and Emerging Adults’ Sexual Outcomes

A DISSERTATION
SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
BY

Alyssa Marie Isaacs

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Dr. Ascan Koerner

August 2012
Alyssa Marie Isaacs 2012 ©
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This dissertation is the culmination of the efforts, sacrifices and commitment of a
whole network of individuals. Only one author’s name may appear on the cover, but
without a plethora of amazing people, this research would not have been possible.
I first need to acknowledge my husband, Sachin, and daughter, Priyanka.
Completing a dissertation is a selfish process that requires much time spent alone reading,
writing and thinking. At times I felt guilty for taking time away from my family, but
Sachin was ever supportive, framing this process as a family endeavor. I cannot quantify
the amount of support he has provided me during these past few years, but I do know that
without him it would not have been possible. It simply would not have been possible. He
is my personal Atlas, keeping my world from spinning out of control. He has kept me
grounded and balanced. He made me laugh when all I wanted to do was cry. He gave me
faith when I felt the task was impossible. He listened to me, counseled me, nurtured me.
And Priyanka. There is no better reminder of my priorities than Priyanka. When I would
start to become consumed by this process, I would only have to spend time with her to
remember what was most important in my life. She provided the ultimate stress relief and
perspective readjustment. It was through taking a break to focus on her that the heart of
this research materialized.
I need also to acknowledge my parents, Todd and Laurie Jensen. Without these
two people, this dissertation would not have come to fruition. It is cliché to say that a task
would be impossible without the help of certain individuals, but I am stating this in the
most literal way. They took vacation days, rescheduled clients, drove thousands of miles
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and spent weeks apart from each other to help me complete this dissertation. My mom
would come stay with us for a week to watch Priyanka so I could work, and my dad
would maintain their household while she was gone. Priyanka and I would stay with them
for a week and they would be the primary care givers so I could work. They would drive
the 200 miles from their house to ours multiple times a month to lend their support in any
form that was needed. They are selfless, hard-working, loving individuals to whom I owe
so very much.
I wish to acknowledge my distinguished advisor, Dr. Ascan Koerner. His
constructive criticism pushed me to do research that I otherwise might not have taken on,
and the quality of this work is much higher than it would have been without his influence.
He prepared me well for the defense and for life as a researcher.
I also want to acknowledge my remarkable committee members Dr. Susanne
Jones, Dr. Dean Hewes and Dr. Marco Yzer who took time out of their busy schedules to
take part in this process. Their perspectives and feedback challenged me to think about
this project from many different angles and this was useful not only for the current
project, but will aide me in producing quality research in the future.
I need to acknowledge the man who pointed my feet down this career path, Dr.
Dan Lintin. I also need to acknowledge Dr. Amy Hermodson, Dr. Rita Rahoi-Gilchrest,
Dr. Emilie Falc, Dr. Kelly Herold and Dr. Edward Reilly at Winona State University. All
of these professors provided the foundation for my academic learning, have been a
constant source of support, and I hold a special place in my heart for each of them.
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I would like to acknowledge all of my extended family, family-in-law and friends.
All the “I know you can do it,” “We’re so proud of you” and “You’ve worked so hard for
this” comments made the hard times bearable and the moments of joy that much sweeter.
I know they have all heard more than they ever wanted to know about statistical
significance, regression, operationalizations and factor analysis, and yet they always sat
there and listened. Even if they did not understand exactly what I was talking about, they
were still there for me, supporting me throughout this process. I especially want to thank
Rachel Peterson, Kelsey Callahan, Martha Sample, Christina Lewis, Dilini and Errol
Williams, Heidi Croatt, Grandpa Roy Jensen, and Vinita and Christopher Isaacs.
To all of those who are not named here but who have helped me on life’s journey,
thank you.
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DEDICATION

I dedicate this dissertation to my family ~
My universe, my air, my everything
v

ABSTRACT
This study has three primary goals. The first goal is to propose and test a new
operationalization of family sexual communication. The second goal is to utilize this new
measure to investigate how family sexual communication impacts adolescents’ and
emerging adults’ sexual beliefs, sexual behaviors, sexual self efficacy, and sexual
communication with their partner. The final goal of this study is to use Family
Communication Patterns Theory to formulate predictions regarding how general family
communication impacts sexual outcomes and test these predictions.
The new operationalization that is proposed is the Family Sexual Communication
Scale. This scale consists of three subscales that measure the frequency, quality and
content of family sexual communication. Through factor analysis, and reliability and
validity testing, this measure demonstrated strong psychometric properties.
For the 326 participants in this study, family sexual communication was
significantly associated with their sexual beliefs, sexual behavior, sexual self efficacy and
sexual communication with their partner. Results from linear and logistic regression
analyses demonstrate that the content of family sexual communication was the strongest
and most consistent predictor of participants’ sexual beliefs and sexual behaviors whereas
frequency and quality were predictive of sexual self efficacy and quality and content
were predictive of sexual communication with a partner.
Family Communication Patterns Theory proved to be a useful theory to apply
when investigating how general family communication impacts sexual outcomes. The
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predictions derived from the theory were all partially or fully supported, and the theory
allows for interpretation and understanding of the relationships between the variables in
this study. Participants from pluralistic and consensual families had higher levels of
sexual self efficacy, partner sexual communication and safe sex than participants from
protective and laissez faire families. Participants from laissez faire families had the
lowest levels of sexual self efficacy and partner sexual communication while also having
high rates of unprotected sex, group sex, and hook ups/one night stands.
Gender differences are examined as is the interaction between family
communication patterns and family sexual communication.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Tables……………………………………………….………………....pg. viii
List of Figures………………………………………………………………....pg. xi
Chapter 1……………………………………………………………………....pg. 1
Chapter 2……………………………………………………………………....pg. 12
Chapter 3……………………………………………………………………....pg. 110
Chapter 4……………………………………………………………………....pg. 178
Chapter 5……………………………………………………………………....pg. 213
Chapter 6……………………………………………………………………....pg. 266
Chapter 7……………………………………………………………………....pg. 374
Chapter 8……………………………………………………………………....pg. 407
References..…………………………………………………………………....pg. 424
Appendix A…………………………………………………………………....pg. 452
Appendix B…………………………………………………………………....pg. 456
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1………………………………………………………………………....pg. 25
Table 2………………………………………………………………………....pg. 31
Table 3………………………………………………………………………....pg. 36
Table 4….……………………………………………………………………....pg. 41
Table 5………………………………………………………………………....pg. 64
Table 6………………………………………………………………………....pg. 67
Table 7………………………………………………………………………....pg. 70
Table 8………………………………………………………………………....pg. 76
Table 9………………………………………………………………………....pg. 80
Table 10..……………………………………………………………………....pg. 82
Table 11..……………………………………………………………………....pg. 220
Table 12..……………………………………………………………………....pg. 223
Table 13..……………………………………………………………………....pg. 225
Table 14..……………………………………………………………………....pg. 227
Table 15……………………………..………………………………………....pg. 231
Table 16……………………………..………………………………………....pg. 237
Table 17……………………………..………………………………………....pg. 245
Table 18……………………………..………………………………………....pg. 248
Table 19……………………………..………………………………………....pg. 249
Table 20..……………………………………………………………………....pg. 251
Table 21..……………………………………………………………………....pg. 253
Table 22..……………………………………………………………………....pg. 225
Table 23..……………………………………………………………………....pg. 257