Abstract

Sexual communication skills are needed to create healthy romantic relationships. Arguably, these skills also can be used to prevent some instances of unwanted sex. This study presents a qualitative analysis of adolescents’ comments after reading a teen-friendly article on sexual consent as part of a web-based sexual health promotion intervention. The sample was comprised predominantly of female adolescents recruited from a Midwest urban region in the United States. Adolescents varied with respect to self-efficacy to request, provide, and deny consent, as well as the perceived need to ask for consent in the context of established relationships. Many adolescents perceived that nonverbal methods of communication were sufficient to request, provide, or deny sexual consent. Factors that make it difficult to discuss sexual boundaries and say “no” to unwanted sex included low self-efficacy and an underlying desire to nurture or preserve a relationship. Cultural norms must be changed to support verbal, affirmative sexual consent. In addition, adolescents must be aided in the development of skills to request sexual consent, say “yes” to specific activities, and say “no” to others. Without supportive norms and skills to enhance self-efficacy, adolescents may be unwilling to engage in verbal communication about sexual consent and boundaries.

摘要

建立健康的浪漫关系需要性沟通技巧。可以说，这些技能也可以用来防止一些不受欢迎的性行为。作为基于网络的性健康促进干预的一部分，这项研究对青少年阅读一篇关于性同意的青少年友好文章后的评论进行了定性分析。样本主要由从美国中西部城市地区招募的女性青少年组成。青少年在请求、提供和拒绝同意方面的自我效能，以及在已建立关系的背景下寻求同意的感知需求方面各不相同。许多青少年认为非语言交流方式足以请求、提供或拒绝性同意。难以讨论性界限和对不想要的性行为说“不”的因素包括自我效能低下以及培养或维持关系的潜在愿望。必须改变文化规范以支持口头的、肯定的性同意。此外，必须帮助青少年发展请求性同意的技能，对特定活动说“是”，对其他活动说“不”。如果没有支持性规范和技能来提高自我效能，青少年可能不愿意就性同意和性界限进行口头交流。对特定活动说“是”，对其他活动说“不”。如果没有支持性规范和技能来提高自我效能，青少年可能不愿意就性同意和性界限进行口头交流。对特定活动说“是”，对其他活动说“不”。如果没有支持性规范和技能来提高自我效能，青少年可能不愿意就性同意和性界限进行口头交流。