TEEN GIRLS ‘CLOSE TO THEIR MOTHER’ LESS LIKELY TO LEAD IMMORAL LIFE

WASHINGTON, September 5, 2002 (LSN.ca) – Teenage girls who have a close relationship with their mothers are more likely to abstain from premarital sexual activity, researchers say. The findings, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, was done by researchers at the University of Minnesota.  Researchers found several characteristics of mothers whose daughters were “still virgins.” All had made it clear they strongly disapproved of their daughters having sex; there was a good mother-daughter relationship; they had regular contact with the parents of their daughters’ friends; and were more likely to have a college education.  Amie McLain, 18, a sophomore at Howard University, agreed, says parents should ignore the look of boredom that teens have perfected. Talking to her mother, she said, helped her decide against having sex with a high school boyfriend. McLain, who served on the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy’s Youth Leadership Team, says: “Keep talking. We’re listening, even if you think we’re not.”  For local news coverage see:  https://www.canada.com/saskatoon/story.asp?id={2C94D2DA-9176-4AA2-A13E-10C089AA943F}