Emerging Adult Risky Sexual Behavior Predicted by Parental Overprotection: Moderated Mediation Analysis

• Author: Mary Moussa Rogers,Cliff McKinney
• Published date: 01 December 2019
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12394
• Date: 01 December 2019

Emerging Adult Risky Sexual Behavior Predicted by

Parental Overprotection: Moderated Mediation

Analysis

MARY MOUSSA ROGERS*

CLIFF MCKINNEY*

Parental control behaviors are suggested to be related to emerging adult outcomes, such

as risky sexual behavior. Although parental control behaviors are more likely to be consid-

ered protective against risky sexual behavior, the relation between parental overprotection

and risky sexual behavior is unclear. Furthermore, parental overprotection may influence

peer selection and prosocial behaviors in emerging adults, which may in turn influence

outcomes of risky sexual behavior, as suggested by primary socialization theory. Thus, the

current study investigated the relations among paternal and maternal overprotection,

emerging adult peer alienation, and risky sexual behavior, and expanded on these relations

by examining gender effects of both parents and children. The sample consisted of 505 par-

ticipants (228 males and 277 females) ranging in age from 18 to 25 years. Analyses were

conducted with AMOS path analysis and indicated that peer alienation mediated the effect

between both maternal and paternal perceived overprotection and risky sexual behavior,

but more strongly for males, suggesting moderated mediation. Overall, parental overpro-

tection may be protective against risky sexual behavior via pathways that are harmful such

as peer alienation, thus recommending research continues to clarify the nuances of these

relations.

Keywords: Emerging Adulthood; Parenting; Overprotection; Risky Sexual Behavior;

Gender; Alienation

Fam Proc 58:972–985, 2019

Emerging adults engage in many health risk behaviors, including but not limited to

substance use, poor eating habits, and risky sexual behaviors (RSB; Arnett, 2000;

Simons, Burt, & Tambling, 2013). Emerging adulthood is a developmental period defined

by identity formation and increased autonomy while maintaining some dependence on

their family units (Arnett, 2000). Emerging adults engage in RSB, such as not using con-

doms or discussing methods of birth control with their partners, which increase the likeli-

hood of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STI) and becoming pregnant (Hadley

et al., 2011; Shneyderman & Schwartz, 2013). RSB also are associated with substance

use, which has its own set of negative consequences, including trouble with the law and

increased likelihood of injurious behaviors (Alati et al., 2014; Baker et al., 1999). Thus,

assessing risk and protective factors in relation to RSB may have multiple benefits. In par-

ticular, parental behaviors may be noteworthy in predicting health risk behaviors (Coley,

Medeiros, & Schindler, 2008; Kincaid, Jones, Sterrett, & McKee, 2012; Zimmer-Gembeck

*Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Mary Moussa Rogers, Department of

Psychology, Mississippi State University, P.O. Box 6161, Mississippi State, MS 39762.

E-mail: mbm564@msstate.edu

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Family Process, Vol. 58, No. 4, 2019 ©2018 Family Process Institute

doi: 10.1111/famp.12394