Teens continue to say that parents most influence their decisions about sex.

• Young people who feel close to their families are more likely to postpone intercourse, and when they finally have sex, they have fewer sexual partners, and use contraception more effectively.
• Parents and teens agree that the biggest barrier to effective communication about sex is that teens and parents are not comfortable discussing sex with one another.
• 97% of girls said "having parents they could talk to" could help prevent pregnancies among unmarried teens.
• Teens continue to say that parents (47%) influence their decisions about sex more than friends (18%), religious leaders (7%), siblings (5%), teachers and sex educators (4%), or the media (3%)—a finding that has remained constant in National Campaign surveys over the years.
• For the first time in National Campaign polling, adults in general now believe that parents most influence teens’ decisions about sex.
• Parents of teens, however, continue to underestimate the influence they have over their children’s decisions about sex and overestimate the influence of friends and the media.
• Most teens (64%) say they share their parents’ values about sex.

The message is clear: Teens who feel comfortable communicating openly with their parents about sexuality are more likely to delay sexual activity, are less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, and are better equipped to have healthy relationships and attitudes about sexuality.