Sexual socialization and the sexual debut of Laotian adolescents in sociocultural context: a qualitative approach

This study aims to discover how sexual socialization shapes adolescents’ sexual behaviours and attitudes by considering various socialization agents and the sociocultural context of the country. Sexual socialization in adolescents is vital to formulating sexual attitudes and behaviours that determine their health and well-being. However, little is known about how various socialization agents share their norms, ideas, and beliefs about sexuality, influencing adolescents’ sexual attitudes and behaviours from a sociocultural perspective. In order to conduct a qualitative study, in-depth semi-structured interviews were used with 21 young people aged 15 to 24 in the capital of Lao PDR. A thematic analysis presents three significant themes that emerged from the data, including social norms about premarital sex, the taboo on sexual discussion and expression, and the normalization of sexual violence. The findings contribute to theories of sexual socialization and provide suggestions for projects and policies to prevent sexual risk behaviours and sexual violence.