Family Adult Awareness of Adolescents’ Premarital Romantic and Sexual Relationships in Ghana

Abstract

This study examined the circumstances under which family adults in Ghana were aware of their adolescent children’s involvement in premarital relationships. It was hypothesized that factors related to the seriousness and social acceptability of the relationship would influence the likelihood of family adults’ awareness in gender-specific ways. Data were derived for 606 premarital relationships reported by 423 adolescents (62% female) aged 14 to 21 years in southeastern Ghana. Family adults were more likely to know about adolescents’ premarital relationships when those relationships were longer lasting, emotionally closer, and involved marital intentions; when they involved out-of-school, employed partners; and when youth perceived that family adults were less disapproving of adolescent sexual activity. Adolescent girls were more likely than boys to report relationships with older, out-of-school, employed partners from financially better-off families. The seriousness and social acceptability of adolescents’ premarital relationships influence the likelihood of family adult awareness of such relationships.