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Different aspects of sexuality influence and are influenced by each other for sexual development among emerging adults.
Sexual learning and communication
Sexual learning and communication
Research shows that emerging adults talk and learn about sex from different sources, including parents, peers, and online media (e.g., internet, social media). Although sexual learning among emerging adults is primarily through peers, it does not necessarily mean that parents play no role in emerging adults' sexual learning!
Parents, mothers in particular, play an important role for emerging adults' sexual development.
Check out the following studies to learn more about how emerging adults' sexual learning from mothers, fathers, peers, and online media matter for their sexual development:
Shigeto, A., & Scheier, L. M. (2024). Learning about sex from different sources: Implications for sexual attitudes, sexual knowledge, and risky sexual behavior among college students. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 53, 2653–2670. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-024-02901-w
Astle, S., Anders, K., Shigeto, A., & Rajesh, P. (2023). “Keep talking to me”: College-attending women’s desires for support from mothers, fathers, and friends/peers in healthy sexual decision-making. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 52, 1593-1606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02538-1
Astle, S., Anders, K., Shigeto, A., & Rodriguez, K. (2023). Sexual messages from mothers, fathers, friends/peers, and online media: A mixed-methods latent class analysis. Emerging Adulthood, 11(1), 133-147. https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968221098453
Astle, S., Shigeto, A., Anders, K., Rodriguez, K., & Rajesh, P. (2022). Emerging adult men’s reports of sexual messages and desired support from parents, friends/peers, and online media in making sexual decisions during college. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 19, 1598-1610. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-022-00696-w
"Bad" sex
"Bad" sex
What is "bad sex"--sex that is bad or negative in some way but not sexual assault or rape?
We asked that question to emerging adults, and a majority reported sex that is not pleasurable, suggesting pleasure is a huge part of sexual experienece for many emerging adults.
However, a small number of participants reported different types of sexual violence (e.g., sexual harassment, coercion) as examples of bad sex, demonstrating a blurry line between what emerging adults perceive as sexual violence and “bad sex.”
Shigeto, A., & Anders, K. (In press). “It’s almost boring when it should be enjoyable and fun”: College students’ definitions of bad sex. Journal of Sex Research, 62(4), 555-567. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2024.2319258
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