Talking sex at home: Family communication, sexual self‐efficacy, beliefs, behaviors, and gender differences

ABSTRACT Background Sexuality is shaped by power relations, gender norms, and cultural discourses that profoundly influence how young adults experience, understand, and express their sexuality. Objective This study investigates the relationship between family communication about sexuality, sexual self‐efficacy, sexual beliefs and myths, and risky sexual behaviors in a sample of 457 students from the University of the Balearic Islands. Method Using a cross‐sectional, descriptive, and correlational design, a questionnaire was administered. Results Findings indicate that young adults communicate more about sexuality with their mothers, regardless of gender identity; however, women report significantly higher levels of maternal communication than men. Greater maternal communication is associated with higher sexual self‐efficacy, although not with age of sexual initiation or engagement in risky sexual behaviors. Endorsement of sexual myths is linked to lower self‐efficacy and limited parental communication. Conclusions Communication with fathers is not significantly associated with any factor. Maternal communication positively predicts sexual self‐efficacy and healthy sexual beliefs and negatively predicts adherence to sexual myths, forming a chain of indirect relationships mediated by self‐efficacy. Implications The study underscores the importance of fostering open, critical, and emotionally supportive family communication to challenge heteronormative discourses and promote a more informed, equitable sexuality.