Relationship between Alcohol Use/Parental Monitoring and the Onset of Sexual Intercourse among School Adolescents in Colombia

Abstract

This study intends to assess whether there is a relationship between alcohol use/parental monitoring and the onset of sexual intercourse among teenagers. The aim is to identify the relationship between sexual debut and alcohol consumption, the relationship between sexual debut and parental monitoring, and finally, to compare parental monitoring results according to the perception of parents and children. A sample of 1916 students and 570 parents is taken. The methodological design is of a cross-sectional, correlational, descriptive type and is analyzed by means of the SPSS v.22 tool. Results suggest that there is a relationship between sexual debut, alcohol use, and low level of monitoring. Perception about the monitoring exercised by parents on their children’s whereabouts, activities, and relationships is similar in both groups (adolescents and parents). It is concluded that there is a need for planning and performing programs for the prevention of alcohol use and early sexual debut among adolescents that promote family participation, considering the fact that paren- tal monitoring is a protection factor.