“Puedes Decirnos con Confianza”: A Mixed Methods Study of Neighborhood-Based Sexual Harassment and Parent–Adolescent Communication in Rural Mexico

Abstract

This mixed methods study quantitatively explored cross-sectional associations between gendered and sexual harassment and parent-adolescent communication, and qualitatively explored rural Mexican adolescents’ views and perceptions of parental discussions of neighborhood-based sexual harassment. Hierarchical regressions revealed that gendered harassment, but not sexual harassment, was associated with less mother-adolescent communication, but was not associated with father-adolescent communication. Qualitative findings demonstrated that most adolescents endorsed a risk of sexual harassment in their communities, despite most parents not discussing sexual violence with them. Future research should explore how Mexican families can incorporate sexual harassment into their broader discussions of neighborhood violence.