A new Canadian study based on Canada’s National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth has demonstrated that adolescent sexual behaviour is influenced, above all else, by parents’ attitudes and behaviours. (www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/oct/09103021.html)

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The following aspects of parental lifestyle were, in particular, identified:

(1) adolescent children whose parents drink to excess twice or more per year are more likely to be “sexually active” than the national average – in the case of girls, 38 percent more.

(2) adolescent children of tobacco-smokers are 22 percent more likely.

(3) adolescents reporting a close relationship with their parents, especially with their father, are less commonly sexually active.

(4) adolescents whose parents attend religious worship and/or are involved in an ethnic community are 40 percent less commonly into it.

(5) adolescents living with their two biological parents, not just one (even after allowance was made for other factors) have lower levels of sexual activity.

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The report concluded by saying that the evidence shows that adolescents do, in fact, listen — and WANT to listen — to their parents.

They don’t just listen. They watch, too.