Bettina H Riley1, Ryon C McDermott2. 1. 1 Bettina H. Riley, PhD, RN, University of South Alabama, Fairhope, AL, USA. 2. 2 Ryon C. McDermott, PhD, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: National health priorities identify adolescent sexual-risk behavior outcomes as research and intervention targets for mental health. OBJECTIVE: Reduce sexual-risk behavioral outcomes by applying self-determination theory to focus on decision-making autonomy. This study examined late adolescents' recollections of parental autonomy support/sexual-risk communication experiences and autonomy motivation as predictors of sexual-risk behaviors/knowledge. METHOD: A convenience sample ( N = 249) of 19- and 20-year-old university students completed self-report questionnaires. Structural equation modeling with latent variables examined direct/indirect effects in the hypothesized model. RESULTS: Parents contributed uniquely through sexual-risk communication and/or autonomy support to late adolescents' autonomous motivation. The final model evidenced acceptable fit and explained 12% of the variation in adolescent sexual-risk behavior, 7% in adolescent autonomous motivation, and 2% in adolescent sexual-risk knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric mental health nurses should conduct further research and design interventions promoting parent autonomy support and adolescent autonomous motivation to reduce sexual risk-behavior and increase sexual-risk knowledge.
BACKGROUND: National health priorities identify adolescent sexual-risk behavior outcomes as research and intervention targets for mental health. OBJECTIVE: Reduce sexual-risk behavioral outcomes by applying self-determination theory to focus on decision-making autonomy. This study examined late adolescents' recollections of parental autonomy support/sexual-risk communication experiences and autonomy motivation as predictors of sexual-risk behaviors/knowledge. METHOD: A convenience sample ( N = 249) of 19- and 20-year-old university students completed self-report questionnaires. Structural equation modeling with latent variables examined direct/indirect effects in the hypothesized model. RESULTS: Parents contributed uniquely through sexual-risk communication and/or autonomy support to late adolescents' autonomous motivation. The final model evidenced acceptable fit and explained 12% of the variation in adolescent sexual-risk behavior, 7% in adolescent autonomous motivation, and 2% in adolescent sexual-risk knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric mental health nurses should conduct further research and design interventions promoting parent autonomy support and adolescent autonomous motivation to reduce sexual risk-behavior and increase sexual-risk knowledge.
Keywords:
adolescent; autonomous motivation; autonomy; autonomy support; late adolescent; psychiatric mental health nurse; sexual-risk behavior; sexual-risk communication; sexual-risk knowledge