Permissive parenting and sexual behavior Among balinese adolescents: An empirical analysis

Abstract

Adolescent sexual behavior has emerged as a growing public health and developmental concern, particularly in regions experiencing increasing rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. In Bali, recent reports indicate a rise in adolescent sexual health problems, underscoring the urgency of identifying family-related factors that may contribute to risky sexual behavior. From a developmental perspective, parenting style plays a central role in shaping adolescents’ self-regulation and decision-making, yet empirical evidence examining this relationship within the Balinese context remains limited. This study aimed to examine the relationship between permissive parenting and sexual behavior among adolescents in Bali. A total of 114 adolescents were recruited using a non-probability purposive sampling technique based on specific inclusion criteria. Data were collected online using two validated instruments: the Sexual Behavior Scale (19 items; Cronbach’s α = .795) and the Permissive Parenting Scale (24 items; Cronbach’s α = .914). Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between permissive parenting and adolescent sexual behavior (r = .316, p < .001), indicating that higher levels of permissive parenting are associated with increased sexual behavior. Regression analysis further showed that permissive parenting accounted for 10% of the variance in adolescent sexual behavior (R² = .100). These findings contribute to developmental and family psychology by providing context-specific evidence on the role of permissive parenting in adolescent sexual behavior. Practically, the results highlight the importance of parent-focused interventions that emphasize supervision, boundary-setting, and open communication, as well as collaboration between schools and community organizations to promote healthy sexual decision-making among adolescents.