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Older siblings can play a vital role in helping adolescents
make safer sexual choices, according to MU researcher Amanda
Kolburn.
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Teens
More Receptive to
Sibling Sex Talks
By Jeremy Diener
Few parent-adolescent discussions elicit
as strong a reaction from both parties as the discussion about
sexual activity. Yet research has shown this to be a critical
discussion among parents and children. New research from the University
of Missouri-Columbia suggests that when it comes to “the
talk,” older siblings can play a vital role in helping adolescents
make safer sexual choices.
Amanda Kolburn, assistant professor of human
development and family studies at MU, examined the role that
older siblings play in protecting teens from engaging in unsafe
sexual practices. Kolburn, along with Lynn Pike of Mississippi
State University, conducted a study on the sexual attitudes and
behaviors of more than 1,000 adolescents from 20 midwestern high
schools.
“Siblings often share similar experiences
and perspectives and may be more likely to understand each other’s
viewpoints than those of adults,” Kolburn said. “Because
of the unique nature of sibling relationships, brothers and sisters
can be important role models.”
Amanda Kolburn says the unique nature of sibling relationships
makes brothers and sisters important role models. Liz Townsend
photo
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Kolburn found that older siblings who openly
discussed sex with their teenaged siblings were more likely to
encourage safer decisions about sexual activity among their brothers
and sisters. In addition she discovered adolescents were more
likely to feel comfortable talking about sex when they had a positive
relationship with their older siblings.
“We found that when both parents
and older siblings discuss safe sex with adolescents, those adolescents
reported less risky attitudes about appropriate sexual behavior
for people their age,” Kolburn said. “They also were
more likely to talk to their partners about condom use.”
Additionally, Kolburn said that older siblings
don’t necessarily have to maintain conservative stances
on sex in order to have a positive influence on adolescent brothers
and sisters. Even when older siblings do not follow cautious sexual
practices, their protective instincts might prompt them to encourage
appropriate sexual behaviors in adolescents.
The study will be published in the July issue
of Family Relations.
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Last Update:
November 15, 2007
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