It's widely held that teens look to their friends or celebs when sussing out their sexual identity, but a new Canadian study suggests they are actually most influenced by mom and dad.
Of the 1,000-plus 14 to 17-year-olds the researchers surveyed, 45 percent indicated that their parents were their main sexuality role models, so-to-speak. Thirty-two percent said they looked to their friends, while 15 percent said they were inspired by celebrities.
As The Montreal Gazette reports, teens who relied on their friends as their primary role models were more sexually active and also more likely to engage in at least one form of "risky sexual behavior," like unprotected sex.
Conversely, children from families that openly discuss sexuality had a greater awareness about the possible risks associated with sexual activity, including sexually transmitted infections.
"Good communication within families and especially around sexual health issues is associated with more responsible behaviours," Dr. Jean-Yves Frappier, one of the study's co-authors said in a statement.
One interesting note: In spite of the fact that nearly half the teens cited their parents as their biggest role models, almost 80 percent of the moms questioned for the survey thought their kids were actually most influenced by their friends. According to the researchers, this suggests a major disconnect with big implications for overall sexual health behaviors. The more parents understand just how influential they are, the safer their kids may be.
"Good communication within families and especially around sexual health issues is associated with more responsible behaviours," Frappier said.