Praat jij over seks? De invloed van communicatie over seksualiteit op de daadwerkelijke seksuele ervaring van jongeren.

Abstract

Objective: This study examines whether communication about sexuality with parents and friends influences the sexual experience of Dutch adolescents and if gender and religion have a moderating influence on this relationship. Method: The sample used in this study exists of 1270 Dutch adolescents in the age of 11-17 (M = 13.53; SD = 1.50). The sample consists of 47% girls and 53% boys. The respondents are following education on a primary school or a high school. Online questionnaires were administered to measure the frequency of communication with parents and friends about sexuality and the experience with sexual behavior. Results: The results of hierarchical regression analyses show that when there is a high level of communication with parents, the adolescents have more experience on sexual behavior. This relationship was moderated by gender: the effect was stronger for boys. When there is a high level of communication with friends, the adolescents showed a higher rate of sexual behavior. This relationship was moderated by gender: the effect was stronger for boys. This relationship was also moderated by religion: the effect was stronger for unreligious adolescents. Conclusion: Communication has an important influence on the sexual behavior of adolescents. Gender and religion are important to consider as moderators in the relation between communication and experience on sexual behavior.