This exploratory cross-sectional study, guided by primary socialization theory, examined relations between four primary socialization agents of sexual learning (i.e., mothers, fathers, friends/peers, and online media) and sexual attitudes, sexual knowledge, and risky sexual behavior. Latent-variable structural equation models were tested using self-report data obtained from 515 emerging adults who had spent at least 6 months attending in-person college classes. Results showed that learning about sex from mothers was associated with more conservative sexual attitudes and lower risky sexual behavior. Sexual learning from friends/peers was linked to liberal sexual attitudes and greater sexual knowledge. Learning from online media was associated with increased sexual knowledge. To account for a shift in sexual learning patterns from before to after entry to college, we created algebraic difference scores for each source of sexual information. Greater reliance on sexual learning from friends/peers in the past 6 months of college relative to before college was associated with liberal sexual attitudes and greater sexual knowledge. Additional analyses revealed different effects of learning about sex from mothers more during college than before college between those living on campus vs. commuters living at home. The discussion emphasizes the different role that each of the primary socialization agents plays for emerging adults’ sexual development, including the protective role of mothers against risky sexual behavior, the impact of friends and peers on sexual attitudes and knowledge, and the shifting dynamics of socialization processes during college.

这项探索性横断面研究以初级社会化理论为指导，考察了性学习的四种主要社会化媒介（即母亲、父亲、朋友/同龄人和在线媒体）与性态度、性知识和危险性行为之间的关系。使用从 515 名至少参加过 6 个月面对面大学课程的新兴成年人获得的自我报告数据对潜变量结构方程模型进行了测试。结果表明，从母亲那里了解性知识与更保守的性态度和更低风险的性行为有关。从朋友/同龄人那里进行性学习与自由的性态度和更多的性知识有关。从在线媒体学习与增加性知识有关。为了解释进入大学之前和之后性学习模式的转变，我们为每个性信息来源创建了代数差异分数。与大学之前相比，在大学的过去 6 个月里，更多地依赖朋友/同龄人的性学习与自由的性态度和更多的性知识有关。其他分析显示，在大学期间比大学之前更多地从母亲那里了解性知识对住在校园的人和住在家里的通勤者有不同的影响。讨论强调了每个主要社会化因素对新兴成年人的性发展所发挥的不同作用，包括母亲对危险性行为的保护作用、朋友和同龄人对性态度和知识的影响，以及社会化动态的变化大学期间的流程。