Relationships among sexual self‐concept, sexual risk cognition and sexual communication in adolescents: a structural equation model

Aim. The purpose of this study was to test a model of sexual self‐concept and sexual risk cognition affecting sexual communication in Taiwanese adolescents. Background. Parent–adolescent sexual communication has been shown to influence adolescent sexual behaviour. Self‐concept is an important predictor of human behaviour, especially sexual behaviour. Few researchers have assessed sexual self‐concept in adolescents, despite its clear relevance to understanding adolescent sexual behaviour. Design. A cross‐sectional survey with convenience sampling was used in this study. Method. In 2009, data were collected by questionnaire from 748 adolescent students at a junior college in Taiwan. Results. The results revealed that the postulated model fits the data from this study well. Sexual self‐concept significantly predicts sexual risk cognition and sexual communication. Sexual risk cognition significantly predicts sexual communication and has an intervening effect on the relationship between sexual self‐concept and sexual communication. Conclusions. Sexual risk cognition is important in explaining sexuality in adolescents. Sexual self‐concept has both direct and indirect effects on sexual communication. Our findings provide concrete directions for school educators in developing sexual health programmes to increase adolescent sexual self‐concept and sexual communication with their parents. Relevance to clinical practice. Future sexual health programmes about sexual self‐concept and sexual risk cognition must add for increasing adolescent’s sexual communication with their parents.