Norms & Adolescent Sexual Health- The Role of Parents, Peers and Religion on Adolescent Sexual Satisfaction through Sexual Emotions

Abstract

Adolescence is a crucial period for promoting positive sexual health outcomes. In this study, we aimed to gain insight into the role of injunctive norms about sexuality in adolescents' positive sexual experiences. Using three-wave longitudinal data from 160 adolescent boys and girls in the Netherlands (Mage=15,47, SDage= 1.32), we investigated the impact of injunctive norms from parents, peers, and religion on adolescents' positive (i.e., feeling happy, proud, and loved) and negative (i.e., feeling ashamed, dirty, and guilty) emotional experiences with sex, and whether these emotions could predict their sexual satisfaction. Additionally, we tested the effects of injunctive norms on adolescents' sexual satisfaction through positive and negative emotional experiences with sex. As initial analyses revealed gender differences, we examined these associations separately for boys and girls while taking their age into account. Findings from multiple linear regression analyses showed that for boys, being older was related to experiencing higher levels of positive emotions and lower levels of sexual satisfaction. Moreover, perceiving parents as more sexually approving and peers as less sexually approving were related to experiencing higher levels of sexual satisfaction, but these associations were not mediated by positive nor negative emotional experiences. For girls, perceiving parents as more sexually approving was related to higher levels of positive emotions. Both for boys and girls, experiencing negative emotions with sex seems to be a factor that might hinder sexual satisfaction. Overall, our study findings show that adolescents' perception of what is (dis)approved by their parents and peers interferes with their positive sexual outcomes. Moreover, it highlights the role of gender in shaping various aspects of adolescents' sexual experiences. These insights highlight the necessity of sex education in promoting equality and addressing biases related to social norms, gender, and sexuality.