Percepção dos adolescentes acerca da influência dos pais e pares nos seus comportamentos sexuais

 

Sónia Dias (*)

Margarida Gaspar de Matos (**)

Aldina Gonçalves (*)

 

 

RESUMO

O presente estudo teve como objectivo compreender as percepções dos adolescentes acerca da influência parental e dos pares nos seus comportamentos sexuais. Neste estudo foi utilizada a metodologia “grupo focal” a uma amostra constituída por 72 adolescentes de escolas públicas do ensino regular de Portugal Continental. Os temas dos “grupos focais” foram discutidos em termos dos factores protectores e de risco para os comportamentos sexuais. Os discursos dos adolescentes identificaram vários factores familiares, como o estatuto socio-económico, a qualidade da relação familiar, a comunicação entre pais e filhos, os estilos parentais, a supervisão parental; e factores relacionados com os pares, como a comunicação, as normas e a pressão dos pares como influenciando as atitudes e comportamentos sexuais protectores ou de risco para a saúde dos jovens. Os resultados deste estudo são consistentes com a literatura que reconhece a influência dos pais e pares nos comportamentos sexuais dos adolescentes. Dão, assim, suporte ao desenvolvimento e implementação de programas eficazes de Promoção de Saúde Sexual nos adolescentes que incluam a abordagem à família de forma a robustecer as suas competências e diminuir o impacto dos factores de risco relacionados com os pares.

Palavras-chave: Adolescência, comportamento sexual, influência parental e dos pares.

 

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to examine the adolescents’ perceptions of parental and peers influence on theirs sexual behaviours. The study utilised “focus groups” qualitative methods from a sample of 72 adolescents from secondary schools in Portugal. The themes of focus group are discussed in terms of family and peers protective and risk factors in sexual behaviour. Adolescents identified several family factors, such as parent’s socio-economic status, family connectedness, parent-child communication, parenting style, and peers factors, such as peer communication, peer norms, and peer pressure, that influence adolescents’ sexual protective or risk behaviour. The results are consistent with a growing body of literature that highlights the impact of parents and peers in adolescents’ sexual behaviour. These findings lend support for the design and implementation of family-based approaches to promoting healthy adolescent sexual behaviour and reduce the impact of risky friendships.

Key words: Adolescence, sexual behaviour, parental and peers’ influence.

 

 

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(*) Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Área de Saúde Internacional / Centro de Malária e Outras Doenças Tropicais. E-mail: smfdias@yahoo.com

(**) Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade Técnica & CMDT/IHMT.