@article{ref1,
title="Gender differences? Internet use and parent-child communication about sex toward sexual attitudes among early adolescents in taiwan",
journal="Journal of Nursing Research",
year="2015",
author="Tseng, Ying-Hua and Weng, Chia-Sui and Kuo, Shih-Hsien and Chou, Fan-Hao and Yang, Yi-Hsin and Chiang, Li-Chi",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND:: With the progress of information technology, early adolescents are able to access sex-related information through the Internet easily. This information has been shown to have a significant influence on the sexual health of this population. In addition, parent-child communications about sex affect the sexual health of adolescents. Few empirical studies have focused on early adolescents and gender differences. <br><br>PURPOSE:: This study explores gender differences between early adolescents in terms of the use of the Internet to obtain sex-related information, parent-child communication, and sex-related knowledge and attitudes. <br><br>METHODS:: This cross-sectional and comparative study uses an analysis of covariance and a hierarchical regression for data analysis. The researchers recruited 457 sixth-grade boys (n = 204) and girls (n = 253) in southern Taiwan as participants and used a structured questionnaire to collect data. <br><br>RESULTS:: Participants exhibited significant differences in terms of Internet usage behavior, parent-child communications about sex, and sex-related knowledge and sexual attitudes. The male participants spent more time on &quot;recreation and entertainment&quot; activities on the Internet, whereas their female peers spent significantly more time searching for information. Regarding parent-child communications about sex, girls had better mother-child communications than boys. In addition, no gender-based difference was found for father-child communications about sex. The knowledge of physical changes occurring during puberty and of menstrual healthcare among female participants was superior to their male counterparts. Girls had a more informed sexual attitude, particularly with regard to issues of gender roles, relationships with the opposite gender, and the social aspects of sex. Sex-related knowledge and parent-child communication about sex were the two major predictors of sexual attitudes for boys and girls, respectively. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS:: To develop healthy sexual attitudes among early adolescents, nursing professionals, families, and schools should enhance sex-related knowledge and parent-child communications, especially with boys. Early adolescence is a key time to provide sex education and Internet-safety education to both boys and girls to improve their sexual health. This study may serve as a reference for families, schools, researchers, and policymakers for promoting the sexual health of early adolescents.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1682-3141",
doi="10.1097/jnr.0000000000000067",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/jnr.0000000000000067"
}