Jennifer M Grossman
Biographic Data
| ID | 303424 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Jennifer M Grossman |
| GIVEN NAMES | Jennifer M |
| FAMILY NAME | Grossman |
| SIGNATURE | GROSSMAN J M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Wellesley College |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-6403-4424 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 27 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 144 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 27 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2007 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Connected Dads, Healthy Teens
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of Connected Dads, Healthy Teens , a 4-week online father-teen program designed to promote healthy communication and decision-making about sex and relationships. A pilot sample of 53 fathers and 50 of their high-school aged teens participated in this program and took pre- and post-test surveys. Participants reported high levels of program feasibilit…
A Digital Program to Promote Sexual Communication Between Early Adolescents and Parents
Family communication about puberty, relationships, and sexuality is an important component of healthy sexual development for early adolescents who are beginning puberty and navigating increased interest in sexual and romantic relationships. Yet sexual communication is difficult for many families. Many sex education books and in-person programs exist, but they are an increasingly outdated form of education in our digital world. To address this gap…
Redefining Father Roles in Family Sexual Health Communication
Objective This study qualitatively investigated fathers' perspectives on family roles and communication related to talking with teens about sex and relationships. Background Father‐teen talk about sex and relationships can protect teens from sexual risk behaviors. However, few studies explore fathers' roles and engagement within family systems to support teens' sexual health and relationships. Method Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with…
‘I put it all out there. I have nothing to hide. It’s my mom’
Protective effects of talk with parents about sex, for delaying sex and reducing young people's risky sexual behaviour may extend from adolescence to emerging adulthood. However, little is known about the content and process of this communication, or how parents and their emerging adult children perceive their conversations about sex and relationships. This study offers a novel exploration of family talk about sex during emerging adulthood and ad…
Associations of early social media initiation on digital behaviors and the moderating role of limiting use
Profiles of adolescent communication with parents and extended family about sex
Moving from Needs Assessment to Intervention
Talk with fathers about sex and relationships can support teens' health, but its impact is limited as few fathers talk with their teens about sexual issues. Needs assessment and fathers' input on intervention content and structure can guide the development of programs that support fathers' health-promoting talk with their teen children about sex and relationships. In the present study, we explored fathers' goals in their talk with teens about sex…
Same-Sex Attraction Disclosure and Sexual Communication Topics within Families
Few studies compare family communication about sex and relationships for sexual minority youth versus hetero-sexual teenagers. Further, existing studies often focus on mothers, overlooking fathers and extended family. Our survey of 952 adolescents aged 14-21 included 115 adolescents disclosing non-heterosexual attraction. Mothers offered more sexual protection methods messages to their non-SM teens, whereas fathers talked less with SM teens about…
Sex behaviours and family sexuality communication among Hispanic adolescents
This study compared the extent to which Hispanic teenagers talk with mothers, fathers and extended family members about risks of sex, protection and relational sex, as well as the moderating role of teenagers' gender on the association between sexuality communication and risky sexual behaviours. Analysis is based upon 474 Hispanic young people's responses to a school-based survey recruited from six New England high schools. We (1) calculated desc…
Father-Teen Talks about Sex and Teens’ Sexual Health
Family talks about sex can protect against teens' risky sexual behavior, but most research has focused on the role of mothers. The current study included cross-sectional survey data from 728 adolescents in the 11th and 12th grades (M age = 17.00, SD = 0.90) in the United States. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess associations between teens' direct and indirect talk, defined as less straightforward ways to communicate one's sexu…
Parents’ Perspectives on Talk with Their Adolescent and Emerging Adult Children About Sex
A Larger Ecology of Family Sexuality Communication
Extended family can be a resource for conversations about sex, but extended family perspectives have been largely left out of existing research. The present study investigates how extended family, such as aunts and uncles, siblings and cousins, perceive communication with teens in their families about sex. A thematic analysis was conducted with data from interviews in the U.S. with 39 extended family members, primarily siblings, who reported talk…
Combination of Parent-Child Closeness and Parent Disapproval of Teen Sex Predicts Lower Rates of Sexual Risk for Offspring
Effective parenting processes during offspring's adolescence can reduce sexual risk behavior for those offspring in emerging adulthood. Few studies consider how mothers' and fathers' parenting processes cluster together and predict emerging adults' risky sexual behavior. In this study, we used latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify patterns of teens' perceptions of their residential mothers' and fathers' closeness, disapproval of teen sex, mon…
Extended-Family Talk about Sex and Teen Sexual Behavior
Research shows that family communication about sexuality can protect against teens' risky sexual behavior. However, few studies assess talk with extended family about sex or how this communication relates to teens' sexual behavior. The current study includes cross-sectional survey data from 952 adolescents. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess associations between teens' sexual risk behaviors and communication with extended famil…
Parenting Practices and Emerging Adult Sexual Health
Parents’ Perspectives on Family Sexuality Communication from Middle School to High School
Parents' conversations with teens about sex and relationships can play a critical role in improving teenage reproductive health by reducing teens' risky sexual behavior. However, little is known about how teen-parent communication changes from early to middle adolescence and how parents can tailor their communication to address their teens' changing development and experiences during these periods. In this longitudinal qualitative study, U.S. par…
Do as I Say, Not as I Did
Communication between parents and teens about sexuality can reduce early sexual behavior. However, little research investigates how parents who were adolescents when they had children (early parents) talk with their teens about sex. In-depth interviews were conducted with a racially/ethnically diverse sample of 29 parents of seventh graders. Salient themes of conversations with adolescents were risks of early parenthood, sexually transmitted infe…
Comparing Sexuality Communication Among Offspring of Teen Parents and Adult Parents
The Role of Extended Family in Teen Sexual Health
Despite increasing extended family involvement in childrearing, particularly in minority families, few studies investigate their role in talking with teens about sex or how this relates to teens' sexual behavior. This mixed methods study assesses extended family sexuality communication through a survey of 1492 diverse middle school students and interviews with 32 students. Logistic regression shows that participants who report having had sex are …
Perceived Gender and Racial/Ethnic Barriers to STEM Success
This mixed-methods study examined urban adolescents’ perceptions of gender and racial/ethnic barriers to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) success, and their meaning-making and coping regarding these experiences. The sample includes surveys from 1024 high school-aged students and interviews from 53 students. Logistic analysis showed that higher science aspirations significantly predicted perceived support for girls and wome…
Adolescents’ Religious Discordance with Mothers
Can Sex Education Delay Early Sexual Debut
In this study, we examine whether a nine-lesson sex education intervention, “ Get Real: Comprehensive Sex Education That Works,” implemented in sixth grade, can reduce the number of adolescents who might otherwise become “early starters” of sexual activity (defined as heterosexual intercourse) by seventh grade. Participants were 548 boys and 675 girls who completed surveys in both sixth grade (baseline) and seventh grade (follow-up). The sample w…
Constructing Profiles of Religious Agreement and Disagreement between Adolescents and Mothers
This research note describes the use of latent class analysis to examine how three dimensions of religiosity-the importance of religion (religious salience), attendance at religious services, and frequency of prayer-cluster together to form unique profiles. Building upon recent research identifying different profiles of religiosity at the level of the individual, we used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to identify d…
Importance of race and ethnicity
This mixed-method study used a grounded theory approach to explore the meanings underlying the importance that adolescents attach to their racial-ethnic identities. The sample consisted of 923 9th- to 12th-grade students from Black, Latino, Asian, and multiracial backgrounds. Thematic findings identified a broad range of explanations for adolescents' racial-ethnic centrality, ranging from pride and cultural connection to ambivalence and colorblin…
Race, Context, and Privilege
Discrimination Distress among Chinese American Adolescents
Race, Context, and Privilege
Importance of race and ethnicity
This mixed-method study used a grounded theory approach to explore the meanings underlying the importance that adolescents attach to their racial-ethnic identities. The sample consisted of 923 9th- to 12th-grade students from Black, Latino, Asian, and multiracial backgrounds. Thematic findings identified a broad range of explanations for adolescents' racial-ethnic centrality, ranging from pride and cultural connection to ambivalence and colorblin…
Chinese American Middle School Youths' Experiences of Discrimination and Stereotyping
This study examined Chinese American youths' perceptions of their non-Asian peers' views and behaviors toward them. In 4 focus groups, 22 Chinese Americans (ages 11 to 15) described specific relational experiences that were analyzed thematically. Three major themes related to racial discrimination emerged: (1) descriptions of stereotyping experiences; (2) descriptions of harassment or discriminatory experiences; and (3) meaning-making or explanat…
Perceived Gender and Racial/Ethnic Barriers to STEM Success
This mixed-methods study examined urban adolescents’ perceptions of gender and racial/ethnic barriers to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) success, and their meaning-making and coping regarding these experiences. The sample includes surveys from 1024 high school-aged students and interviews from 53 students. Logistic analysis showed that higher science aspirations significantly predicted perceived support for girls and wome…
Can Sex Education Delay Early Sexual Debut
In this study, we examine whether a nine-lesson sex education intervention, “ Get Real: Comprehensive Sex Education That Works,” implemented in sixth grade, can reduce the number of adolescents who might otherwise become “early starters” of sexual activity (defined as heterosexual intercourse) by seventh grade. Participants were 548 boys and 675 girls who completed surveys in both sixth grade (baseline) and seventh grade (follow-up). The sample w…
The Role of Extended Family in Teen Sexual Health
Despite increasing extended family involvement in childrearing, particularly in minority families, few studies investigate their role in talking with teens about sex or how this relates to teens' sexual behavior. This mixed methods study assesses extended family sexuality communication through a survey of 1492 diverse middle school students and interviews with 32 students. Logistic regression shows that participants who report having had sex are …
Do as I Say, Not as I Did
Communication between parents and teens about sexuality can reduce early sexual behavior. However, little research investigates how parents who were adolescents when they had children (early parents) talk with their teens about sex. In-depth interviews were conducted with a racially/ethnically diverse sample of 29 parents of seventh graders. Salient themes of conversations with adolescents were risks of early parenthood, sexually transmitted infe…
Constructing Profiles of Religious Agreement and Disagreement between Adolescents and Mothers
This research note describes the use of latent class analysis to examine how three dimensions of religiosity-the importance of religion (religious salience), attendance at religious services, and frequency of prayer-cluster together to form unique profiles. Building upon recent research identifying different profiles of religiosity at the level of the individual, we used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to identify d…
Chinese American Middle School Youths' Experiences of Discrimination and Stereotyping
This study examined Chinese American youths' perceptions of their non-Asian peers' views and behaviors toward them. In 4 focus groups, 22 Chinese Americans (ages 11 to 15) described specific relational experiences that were analyzed thematically. Three major themes related to racial discrimination emerged: (1) descriptions of stereotyping experiences; (2) descriptions of harassment or discriminatory experiences; and (3) meaning-making or explanat…
Discrimination Distress among Chinese American Adolescents
Race, Context, and Privilege
Importance of race and ethnicity
This mixed-method study used a grounded theory approach to explore the meanings underlying the importance that adolescents attach to their racial-ethnic identities. The sample consisted of 923 9th- to 12th-grade students from Black, Latino, Asian, and multiracial backgrounds. Thematic findings identified a broad range of explanations for adolescents' racial-ethnic centrality, ranging from pride and cultural connection to ambivalence and colorblin…
Can Sex Education Delay Early Sexual Debut
In this study, we examine whether a nine-lesson sex education intervention, “ Get Real: Comprehensive Sex Education That Works,” implemented in sixth grade, can reduce the number of adolescents who might otherwise become “early starters” of sexual activity (defined as heterosexual intercourse) by seventh grade. Participants were 548 boys and 675 girls who completed surveys in both sixth grade (baseline) and seventh grade (follow-up). The sample w…
Constructing Profiles of Religious Agreement and Disagreement between Adolescents and Mothers
This research note describes the use of latent class analysis to examine how three dimensions of religiosity-the importance of religion (religious salience), attendance at religious services, and frequency of prayer-cluster together to form unique profiles. Building upon recent research identifying different profiles of religiosity at the level of the individual, we used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to identify d…
Adolescents’ Religious Discordance with Mothers
The Role of Extended Family in Teen Sexual Health
Despite increasing extended family involvement in childrearing, particularly in minority families, few studies investigate their role in talking with teens about sex or how this relates to teens' sexual behavior. This mixed methods study assesses extended family sexuality communication through a survey of 1492 diverse middle school students and interviews with 32 students. Logistic regression shows that participants who report having had sex are …
Perceived Gender and Racial/Ethnic Barriers to STEM Success
This mixed-methods study examined urban adolescents’ perceptions of gender and racial/ethnic barriers to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) success, and their meaning-making and coping regarding these experiences. The sample includes surveys from 1024 high school-aged students and interviews from 53 students. Logistic analysis showed that higher science aspirations significantly predicted perceived support for girls and wome…
Comparing Sexuality Communication Among Offspring of Teen Parents and Adult Parents
Do as I Say, Not as I Did
Communication between parents and teens about sexuality can reduce early sexual behavior. However, little research investigates how parents who were adolescents when they had children (early parents) talk with their teens about sex. In-depth interviews were conducted with a racially/ethnically diverse sample of 29 parents of seventh graders. Salient themes of conversations with adolescents were risks of early parenthood, sexually transmitted infe…
Parents’ Perspectives on Family Sexuality Communication from Middle School to High School
Parents' conversations with teens about sex and relationships can play a critical role in improving teenage reproductive health by reducing teens' risky sexual behavior. However, little is known about how teen-parent communication changes from early to middle adolescence and how parents can tailor their communication to address their teens' changing development and experiences during these periods. In this longitudinal qualitative study, U.S. par…
Extended-Family Talk about Sex and Teen Sexual Behavior
Research shows that family communication about sexuality can protect against teens' risky sexual behavior. However, few studies assess talk with extended family about sex or how this communication relates to teens' sexual behavior. The current study includes cross-sectional survey data from 952 adolescents. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess associations between teens' sexual risk behaviors and communication with extended famil…
Parenting Practices and Emerging Adult Sexual Health
A Larger Ecology of Family Sexuality Communication
Extended family can be a resource for conversations about sex, but extended family perspectives have been largely left out of existing research. The present study investigates how extended family, such as aunts and uncles, siblings and cousins, perceive communication with teens in their families about sex. A thematic analysis was conducted with data from interviews in the U.S. with 39 extended family members, primarily siblings, who reported talk…
Combination of Parent-Child Closeness and Parent Disapproval of Teen Sex Predicts Lower Rates of Sexual Risk for Offspring
Effective parenting processes during offspring's adolescence can reduce sexual risk behavior for those offspring in emerging adulthood. Few studies consider how mothers' and fathers' parenting processes cluster together and predict emerging adults' risky sexual behavior. In this study, we used latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify patterns of teens' perceptions of their residential mothers' and fathers' closeness, disapproval of teen sex, mon…
Same-Sex Attraction Disclosure and Sexual Communication Topics within Families
Few studies compare family communication about sex and relationships for sexual minority youth versus hetero-sexual teenagers. Further, existing studies often focus on mothers, overlooking fathers and extended family. Our survey of 952 adolescents aged 14-21 included 115 adolescents disclosing non-heterosexual attraction. Mothers offered more sexual protection methods messages to their non-SM teens, whereas fathers talked less with SM teens about…
Sex behaviours and family sexuality communication among Hispanic adolescents
This study compared the extent to which Hispanic teenagers talk with mothers, fathers and extended family members about risks of sex, protection and relational sex, as well as the moderating role of teenagers' gender on the association between sexuality communication and risky sexual behaviours. Analysis is based upon 474 Hispanic young people's responses to a school-based survey recruited from six New England high schools. We (1) calculated desc…
Father-Teen Talks about Sex and Teens’ Sexual Health
Family talks about sex can protect against teens' risky sexual behavior, but most research has focused on the role of mothers. The current study included cross-sectional survey data from 728 adolescents in the 11th and 12th grades (M age = 17.00, SD = 0.90) in the United States. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess associations between teens' direct and indirect talk, defined as less straightforward ways to communicate one's sexu…
Parents’ Perspectives on Talk with Their Adolescent and Emerging Adult Children About Sex
Associations of early social media initiation on digital behaviors and the moderating role of limiting use
Profiles of adolescent communication with parents and extended family about sex
Moving from Needs Assessment to Intervention
Talk with fathers about sex and relationships can support teens' health, but its impact is limited as few fathers talk with their teens about sexual issues. Needs assessment and fathers' input on intervention content and structure can guide the development of programs that support fathers' health-promoting talk with their teen children about sex and relationships. In the present study, we explored fathers' goals in their talk with teens about sex…
‘I put it all out there. I have nothing to hide. It’s my mom’
Protective effects of talk with parents about sex, for delaying sex and reducing young people's risky sexual behaviour may extend from adolescence to emerging adulthood. However, little is known about the content and process of this communication, or how parents and their emerging adult children perceive their conversations about sex and relationships. This study offers a novel exploration of family talk about sex during emerging adulthood and ad…
A Digital Program to Promote Sexual Communication Between Early Adolescents and Parents
Family communication about puberty, relationships, and sexuality is an important component of healthy sexual development for early adolescents who are beginning puberty and navigating increased interest in sexual and romantic relationships. Yet sexual communication is difficult for many families. Many sex education books and in-person programs exist, but they are an increasingly outdated form of education in our digital world. To address this gap…
Psychology (24 works) · Developmental psychology (23 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (20 works) · Social Psychology (18 works) · Human sexuality (12 works) · Reproductive health (12 works) · Social Psychology (12 works) · Sociology (12 works) · Gender Studies (11 works) · Medicine (10 works)