Sex education for young adolescents: enhancing parental involvement

The frequent incidence and seriousness of youth problems such as delinquency, runaways, drug abuse, and suicide create significant social problems. The tumultuous nature of adolescence, which offers a tremendous challenge to families, has captured the public's attention through adolescent sexuality (Herz, Goldberg, & Reis, 1984; Trussell, 1988). Considered a serious national health issue, the sexual behavior of adolescents is an area of increased concern as is the incidence of sexually transmitted disease, pregnancy I and abortion rise among teens (Mast, 1988).