Abstract

This study sought to uncover parental attachment variables that are associated with risky adolescent sexual behavior. The study employed secondary data analysis and used a data set compiled by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Survey of Children and Youth 1997 (NLSY 1997). This was a national sample of nearly 8,000 respondents from 12-16 years of age. Variables measuring parental monitoring and emotional closeness were used in logistic and linear regression models to predict whether a respondent reported having sex, whether multiple partners were reported and the reported number of sexual partners in the past year. The study finds that maternal and paternal variables were significant in the prediction of having sex, having multiple partners, and number of partners in the last year. The number of hours spent weekly with family and number of hours of weekly maternal monitoring were significant in the prediction of all three dependent variables. Paternal variables were better predictors of having multiple partners and number of partners than predictors of having sex. Maternal factors were more important in the prediction of whether or not a respondent reported being sexually active.