Attitude mismatching: Discrepancies in the sexual attitudes of African American mothers and their pre-adolescent children

The present study examined attitude congruence between mothers and their pre-adolescent children regarding the precursors of sexual behavior (i.e., having a boyfriend/girlfriend, dating), timing of sexual initiation (i.e., waiting until marriage to have sex), and the potential consequences of sexual behavior (i.e., the seriousness of pregnancy and AIDS). A sample of 932 fourth and fifth grade African American children and their mothers participated by completing computer-administered surveys. The results indicated significant discrepancies between maternal and child attitudes, particularly regarding the precursors of sexual behavior. In addition, children often inaccurately perceived their mothers' attitudes, and evidence suggested that lack of sexual communication is associated with some of these misperceptions. The implications of sexual attitude discrepancies between mothers and children for prevention programs are discussed.