Kulis, S. S., Tsethlikai, M., Ayers, S. L., & Gresenz K. E. (2024). Parenting in 2 worlds: Testing improved parent–adolescent communication about sexuality in urban American Indian families. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 34(1), 56-68. https://doi.org/10.48336/IJXBNK9318

Abstract

Urban American Indian (AI) adolescents are more likely than non-Natives to have early sexual debut, teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and inadequate sexual health information. A RCT in three Arizona cities, with 585 parents of urban AI adolescents, tested whether a culturally tailored parenting intervention for urban AI families, Parenting in 2 Worlds (P2W), increased parent–adolescent communication about sexuality, compared to an informational family health intervention that was not culturally tailored. P2W produced significantly larger increases on two measures: communication about general sexual health and about sexual decision-making. The desired effects of P2W on the first measure were stronger short-term for cross-gender dyads, while for the second measure, they were stronger long-term for both mothers and fathers of adolescent sons.