Risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases May Be Reduced by Parent Supervision

Sexually transmitted diseases are a serious health issue among teen girls. The highest rates of the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) gonorrhea and chlamydia in women occur among female teens between 15 and 19 years of age. But researchers from The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, and the University of California School of Medicine in San Francisco found that parental involvement could reduce a teen's risk of contracting STDs.

Between August 2000 and September 2002, 279 high-risk teen girls between 14 and 19 years of age were recruited from an urban setting for this study. In addition to being tested for STDs, the teens were asked 3 questions designed to assess perceived parental supervision. The questions were: (1) "How much do your parents or guardians try to know about where you go at night?" (2) How much do your parents know about what you do with your free time?" and (3) "How much do your parents or guardians know about where you are most afternoons?" Using a 5-point scale ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree", the teens were also asked to rate six statements about whether they felt comfortable communicating with their parents about their beliefs or problems.

Thirty percent of the teens had gonorrhea and/or chlamydia at the start of the study and were treated. After 6 months, 158 participants (56%) returned to be tested again and about 20% had an STD. Teens who reported that their parents frequently knew about their whereabouts and supervised their activities had a reduced risk of being infected with gonorrhea and chlamydia. However, having a high level of communication with their parents (as assessed by the 6-question communication scale) did not appear to have an effect on reducing the risk of infection.

What This Means to You: This study focused on a high-risk group of teens, and suggests that parental involvement has an important role in promoting healthy behaviors in teens. Specifically, getting and staying involved in your teen's life may reduce the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. Sexually transmitted diseases can have serious health consequences and may lead to future infertility. Don't hesitate to talk to your child about STDs and the importance of prevention. Ask plenty of questions about where your child is going, who he or she is going with, and what they'll be doing. If your teen is sexually active, encourage him or her to talk to a health care professional about testing for sexually transmitted diseases.

Source: Julie A. Bettinger, PhD; David D. Celentano, ScD; Frank C. Curriero, PhD; Nancy E. Adler, PhD; Susan G. Millstein, PhD; Jonathan M. Ellen, MD; Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, July 2004

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: August 2004