Parent involvement in Sexual Health Literacy education for adolescents: a qualitative study

Improving adolescent Sexual Health Literacy (SHL) promotes healthy behaviours and relationships. Parents play a key role but often face challenges when discussing sexual health. This study explores SHL topics that parents consider relevant and the uncertainties surrounding them, examines current parental strategies to promote SHL, and identifies strategies and resources that support parents in addressing these challenges. A qualitative design involving in-depth interviews ( n = 11) and one focus group ( n = 4) with German parents was used to examine SHL topics and parental communication strategies. Data were analysed using structuring content analysis (Kuckartz, 2018). Parents identified topics that aligned with comprehensive sexual education frameworks (WHO Regional Office for Europe & Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA), 2010). However, they reported uncertainty about how to initiate discussions on some of these topics with their children. The study revealed that parents rely on both direct conversations and indirect strategies to promote adolescents’ SHL but encounter barriers such as discomfort and fear of overstepping their children’s boundaries. Many parents expressed a need for guidance on how to start conversations, and facilitate ongoing dialogue with their adolescents. Although parents recognise their role in SHL, many lack confidence, vocabulary and practical guidance for addressing sensitive and evolving sexual health topics. Structured resources, including digital formats, may support parent‑based sexual health education by strengthening parents’ confidence and communication strategies. Future research should further examine the role of indirect parental strategies in promoting SHL.