How parents' sexual health messages shape contraceptive use among young Black women
A study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine by Faculty Associate Julia Steinberg and colleagues examines how messages about sex and contraception from parents may influence contraceptive use among Black adolescent girls and young women in the United States.
Using data from the 2013-2019 National Survey of Family Growth, Steinberg and colleagues analyzed responses from 794 Black women and girls ages 15-24 and identified four distinct patterns of parental sexual socialization: Comprehensive, Limited, Abstinence-focused, and Contraception-focused. The Comprehensive socialization group was characterized by a high likelihood of receiving a broad range of sexual health messages, including messages about contraception, condoms, abstinence, and sexually transmitted diseases. In contrast, the Limited socialization group was characterized by low likelihood of receiving these types of messages. The Abstinence-focused socialization group was more likely to receive messages emphasizing saying no to sex, waiting until marriage, and sexually transmitted diseases, while receiving fewer messages about contraception. The Contraception-focused socialization group was more likely to receive specific information about birth control methods and where to obtain birth control, but less likely to receive messages about how to use condoms.
The study found that young women who received limited or abstinence-focused messages were less likely to engage in preventive contraceptive behaviors during their first sexual experience compared with those who received contraception-focused messages. Differences between the groups were less evident by the time of respondents’ most recent sexual experience. Additionally, there were few differences in contraceptive practices between the socialization patterns at most recent intercourse.
These findings demonstrate that there is no singular approach to parental sexual socialization of Black girls in the United States. Steinberg and colleagues highlight the important role parents can play in shaping young people’s sexual health behaviors and point to the potential benefits of providing Black adolescents with clear, comprehensive, and contraception-focused information. The research may also help identify young people who could be at greater risk for unintended pregnancy and inform approaches to parent education and sexual health communication.
Brown, J.A., Steinberg, J.R., Wilson, P.A. et al. Parental sexual socialization and contraceptive use in young Black women and adolescent girls. J Behav Med (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-026-00701-2