Research Paper

Paper 3

Introduction Comment by Richards, Sharlene - richarst: Note this paper is only 4 pages- it should be minimally 4 ½ pages.

Out of all sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) cases calculated each year, 50% are contracted by young people ages 15-24 (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). This age group is particularly at risk for STDs because they tend to sexually active, and engage in more sexually-risky behaviors.

This research proposal examines the relationship between memorable messages received from mothers about sex prior to college and female college students’ perceived risks for STIs.

First, the review of literature will discuss research on mother-daughter communication surrounding sexual behavior. Second, the literature review will examine research on perceived risk for STDs. Following the literature review, the rationale will present an argument for the research question. Following the rationale, the research question will be stated.

Literature Review

Mother-Daughter Communication about Sex

Memorable messages are short, specific, verbal messages that one remembers throughout life (Rubinsky & Cooke-Jackson, 2017). Past research indicates that mothers have a significant influence on their daughter’s sexual behavior. Conversations about sex are marked by discomfort by both mothers and daughters, however, daughters see mothers as admirable role models (Dennis & Wood, 2012). Mothers are influential on their daughter’s views about sex and sexual behavior (Binkley, Frey, & Violanti, 2007). Comment by Richards, Sharlene - richarst: This is a conceptual definition Comment by Richards, Sharlene - richarst: This is a summary statement

Past research indicates that mothers may engage in more conversations with their children and discuss more topics, but this may vary according to their parenting style. A study of parent-child triads found that, between mothers and fathers, mothers tend to engage in more conversations about sexuality with their children and discuss a wider variety of topics (Heisler, 2005). Askelson, Campo, and Smith (2012) surveyed mothers of daughters age 9-15 years old, and recorded ten conversation topics total, covering: menstruation, sexual intercourse, romantic relationships, sexually-transmitted infections or diseases, contraception methods, and sexual orientation. In this study, subjects such as menstruation and alcohol (around 80% of mothers recorded discussing these) were discussed much more than others like contraceptives and condoms (both around 30%) (Askelson et al., 2012). Askelson et al. (2012) questioned how a mother’s parenting style affected mother-daughter sex communication, and found that more authoritative mothers (who were demanding of, but responsive to, their children) discussed a greater number of topics with their daughters and at an earlier age than less authoritative mothers.

Past research indicates that conversations about sex with daughters appear to be limited to certain topics. Dennis and Wood (2012) interviewed Black daughters’ (ages 19-22) recollections of conversations with their Black mothers about sex. Few (20%) daughters recalled having open conversations with their mothers; instead, most remembered the conversations being brief and inexplicit (Dennis & Wood, 2012). Binkley et al. (2007) study found that mothers were more likely to discuss less controversial sex topics with their daughters (i.e. more discussed abstinence than safe sex or about birth control rather than abortion) (Binkley et al., 2007). The researchers proposed that this was due to participants’ culture as residents within the Bible Belt region, which has characteristic values of women’s abstinence and negative views on abortion (Binkley et al., 2007).

Past research indicates that memorable messages about sexual health tend to be more negative, rather than positive. The negative messages tended to be about the physical and emotional consequences of sex and feelings of discomfort (Dennis & Wood, 2012). Similarly, a study of women and gender minorities’ memorable messages about sexual health (which came from sources such as parents and educators) discovered a main theme of danger (Rubinsky & Cooke-Jackson, 2017). These memorable messages of danger surrounded the negative physical (STDs, unplanned pregnancies) and emotional (low self-esteem) outcomes of sex (Rubinsky & Cooke-Jackson, 2017). Participants in this survey recorded wishing they had received memorable messages about the positive aspects of sex and open dialogue, among others like consent negotiation (Rubinsky & Cooke-Jackson, 2017). Comment by Richards, Sharlene - richarst: Note: There should be one more paragraph here. There should be 5 paragraphs.

Perceived Risk of STDs Comment by Richards, Sharlene - richarst: Note: In this section there should be five sources, there are only four cited currently. I changed the guidelines for this assignment- thus- this example paper is missing a source here.

Risk perception is one’s believed susceptibility to contracting a disease, along with the believed severity of the disease (Mehrotra, Noar, Zimmerman, & Palmgree, 2008). Previous research indicates a low risk perception for STDs. In a study of students at a minority-serving college, almost half of respondents (48.1% of those ages 20-29 and 57.9% of those below 20 years old) perceived themselves as having no chance of being infected with HIV (Adefuye, Abiona, Balogun, & Lukabo-Durrell, 2009). Similarly, Mehrotra et al. (2008) surveyed sexually-active 18-26 year olds through random digit dialing. Respondents of the survey perceived a greater risk of pregnancy from unprotected sex than of STIs or HIV, especially in casual sex encounters. Further, Chapin (2001) found that adolescents have optimistic bias, and believe they are less likely than others to get pregnant or too cause a pregnancy.

Previous research indicates that those who engage in safe sex practices tend to have a higher risk perception of STIs. In a 30-month longitudinal study of girls receiving the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine, perceived risk for STDs other than HPV significantly increased (Mullins et al., 2016). Likewise, Mehrotra et al. (2008) found that participants who used condoms reported higher perceived risk of STIs, HIV, and pregnancy than those who did not report condom use. Comment by Richards, Sharlene - richarst: Three more paragraphs like these are needed here.

Rationale

Memorable messages from mothers are influential and tend to focus on the negative aspects of sex. Mothers are influential on their daughter’s views about sex and sexual behavior (Binkley, Frey, & Violanti, 2007). Memorable messages of danger were a focus of the sexual health conversations that occurred Rubinsky & Cooke-Jackson, 2017). Comment by Richards, Sharlene - richarst: This paragraph should have a bit more in terms of citations. Additionally it should be showing how memorable messages have been linked in the past to risk perception.

Perceived risk for pregnancy was a predominant worry, as compared to perceived risk for STDs. Mehrotra et al. (2008) found that college-aged individuals perceived a greater risk of pregnancy from unprotected sex than of STIs or HIV, especially in casual sex encounters. Comment by Richards, Sharlene - richarst: Likewise this paragraph should show how perceived risk has been linked back to parent-child communication.

Thus it is likely that contents of memorable messages from conversations with mothers are related to perceived risk for STDs. Therefore the following research question is proposed.

RQ: Is there a relationship between memorable messages received from mothers about sex before college and female college students’ perceived risk for STIs?

References Comment by Richards, Sharlene - richarst: Note: there are only nine scholarly sources here. There should be ten. The other source is a credible source- for the statistic- not a scholarly source. You need ten scholarly sources (articles/conference papers).

Adefuye, A. S., Abiona, T. C., Balogun, J. A., & Lukobo-Durrell, M. (2009). HIV sexual risk

behaviors and perception of risk among college students: Implications for planning

interventions. BMC Public Health, 9(1), 281-292. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-9-281

Askelson, N. M., Campo, S., & Smith, S. (2012). Mother–daughter communication about

sex: The influence of authoritative parenting style. Health Communication, 27(5),

439-448. doi:10.1080/10410236.2011.606526

Binkley, L., Frey, R., & Violanti, M. (2007, November). Sex communication between mothers

and daughters. Paper presented at the National Communication Association Annual