Question
Instructions
Adolescents today are exposed to sexual matters much more than that of their grandparents two generations ago. A major concern of our society is adequate sex education for teenagers, but even many college students do not possess accurate, up-to-date information about sexually transmitted diseases. Often times parents or caregivers don’t know how to approach the ideas of initial or ongoing sexual contact. How would you talk to someone about STD’s under the age of 18 years of age? When should sex education begin for adolescents and should parents provide birth control or condoms to their children without asking about knowledge of their children’s sex life? It is possibly embarrassing for both parent and adolescent, but knowledge is important. If you were a counselor, would you direct parents and adolescents to their county public health department or take a trip to a family doctor. No one wants to think of their children having sex, but it is a reality and both boys and girls need to be responsible for birth control….or are they? What resources are out there for both
For the discussion this week, talk about these important issues both scientifically and personally. What do psychologists recommend on the topic and what advice can you give to someone younger.
Solution
Talking to Adolescents about Sexuality
Many parents are not sure about the best tie to talk about sexuality with their adolescents, but they should understand that “the sooner, the better.” Parents should understand that about 80% of adolescents are sexually active by the time they are 19 years old and about 50% of the 20 million sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) cases reported every year are individuals from the age of 15 to 24 (Genz et al., 2017). Thus it is important for parents to talk and protect their children early enough, which helps establish and maintain an open line of communication throughout adolescence. Additionally, on average, young American women try to get birth control after being sexually active for 22 months (Jennifer Salerno, 2020). Also, most studies show that the more the availability of birth controls the sexual activity (Genz et al. 2017). therefore, having this conversation in early adolescence help parents prevents their teens from experiencing temporary discomfort and long-term health problems. Introducing this conversation in early adolescence allows parents to reinforce their message, and by keeping an open dialogue, teens can also turn to their parents for concerns and questions about sexuality important to them.
Furthermore, adolescents need to understand STDs, especially their causes, means of spreading, symptoms, short-term and long-term consequences, treatment, and most importantly, their prevention. Thus as Grossman et al. (2021) suggest, as a parent to a teenager, it is important that they talk to them about STDs even if they don’t have knowledge about their teen’s sex life……………for help with this assignment contact us via email Address: consulttutor10@gmail.com