Parental Awareness of Rural Adolescents’ Dating Behaviors: Implications for Parent Education

Most parent education programming focuses on educating parents with young children. Programming has focused less on supporting parents during their adolescent children’s dating and sexual development. This study extends literature by exploring the extent to which rural parents are aware of their adolescent child’s dating behaviors, as perceived by adolescents. Findings reveal three main themes: parents are fully aware of their child’s dating behaviors, parents are aware they date but not aware of specific dating behaviors, and parents are not aware at all. Discussion includes practical implications for Extension and other parent education efforts in rural areas based on findings to support the development of healthy relationships during adolescence and into adulthood.