Family Structure, Parental Strictness, and Sexual Behavior among Inner-City Black Male Adolescents

Abstract

Family structure, parental strictness, and sexual behavior were examined among 200 Black male adolescents who completed an anonymous questionnaire. Adolescents who lived with both of their parents reported using condoms more consistently in the past year and were less likely to report fathering a pregnancy as compared with adolescents who did not live with both of their parents. Parental strictness was related to sexual behavior, but the relation differed depending on whether the perceived strictness of the mother or the father was examined. Adolescents who perceived that their mothers were more strict than did other adolescents reported less frequent coitus and with fewer women. Adolescents who perceived that their fathers were more strict than did other adolescents reported using condoms more consistently in the past year.