Sex education for young adolescents: enhancing parental involvement

Abstract

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).