Essay On Permissive Parenting

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Becoming sexually active is a normal part of development that most adolescents take part in. Adolescence is a sensitive stage where teens are trying to find themselves and fit into society. During this critical time, teenagers are becoming more involved in more intimate forms of sexual behavior at earlier ages than adolescents in the past (Sigelman & Rider 2015). There has been a rise in concern about teens becoming sexually active when they are too young because early sexual activity is associated with risky behaviors that can lead to unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (Sigelman & Rider 2015). Sexual behaviors can be shaped by the social and cultural contexts that surround an adolescent. This leads to the idea that parents can influence their teens sexual attitudes and behaviors. I believe permissive parenting causes sexual risk-taking in their adolescent children. The operational definition of permissive parenting is the parenting style with less control over their children. For example, permissive parents set less rules, are not as strict and their children are more autonomous (De Graaf, Vanwesenbeeck, Woertman, & Meeus 2011). Permissive parents might be less likely to teach their children about the importance of contraceptives and educate them about sexually transmitted …show more content…

Although, there are many other forms of sexual behaviors adolescents can engage in, most studies focus on sexual intercourse. According to Coley, et al, one fourth of male and female adolescents report having engaged in sexual intercourse before the age of 15 and two thirds of adolescents by the age of 18. Sexual risk-taking among adolescents carries numerous potential repercussions, most notably unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (Coley, e all

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