College Students' Sexual Socialization From Four Main Sources: A "Mixed Methods" Approach

Summary
Young people develop their understandings of sexuality via socialization from multiple systems. In order to determine the most salient lessons about sexuality that emerging adults report learning from mothers, fathers, peers/friends, and Internet/social media, we collected qualitative data from 212 18-25-year-old college students. Preliminary results show that parents are the source of more messages focused on protecting children from STIs, unplanned pregnancy, and sexual violence; however, these messages were often seen as negative or devaluing of their sexuality. On the other hand, friends/peers are the source of sex-positive messages regarding normalization of sexuality, practical advice on sex, and pleasure. Internet/social media is the source of mixed messages. Educators and program developers should intervene to maximize the support that adolescents can receive from these multiple sources.

Objectives
-- To explore the most salient lessons about sexuality that college-attending emerging adults report learning from mothers, fathers, peers/friends, and Internet/social media.
-- To discuss influences of sexuality messages from four sources from a sex-positive and social learning theory approach.
-- To discuss implications for educators, researchers, and program developers in helping promote sex-positive messaging for young people.