Attachment Theory and Sex Ed: Exploring Hispanic/Latina Mother’s Confidence and Expectations When Discussing Sexual Health with Their Daughters

Effective and open communication about sexual and reproductive health can have a positive effect on the health outcomes of Hispanic/Latina youth; however, parents face numerous barriers when attempting to engage in such communication. Given that maternal figures are frequently the primary educators in sexual health matters, this study seeks to examine the internal processes associated with mothers' intentions to discuss sex-related topics with their daughters. A digital flyer was used to recruit 79 Hispanic/ Latina mothers to complete a survey on this topic. Results indicate mothers who reported a high level of avoidance related to attachment tend to have lower levels of self-efficacy, while mothers who reported a high level of anxiety related to attachment are more likely to experience lower levels of positive emotions and cognitions when it comes to their expectations about the outcome of conversations with their daughters. The results of this study indicate that the attachment dimensions play a significant role in parental intentions to engage in sexual health conversations. Specifically, it is crucial to focus on enhancing viii self-efficacy and fostering a sense of responsibility among mothers in educating their daughters about sexual and reproductive health. By prioritizing these factors, efforts to increase maternal engagement in sexual health conversations can be more effective and potentially result in better sexual health outcomes for Hispanic/ Latina youth.