Let's Change the Talk

Dr. Amanda Holman, PhD 

Associate Professor of Family, Interpersonal, and Health Communication  

For over 15 years, I’ve studied how parents and adolescents navigate conversations about sex, relationships, and growing up. My research explores the tensions, struggles, and successes families experience when talking about these important – but often challenging – topics. Drawing from both parents and teens perspectives, my work aims to bridge communication gaps and support more open, confident dialogue at home.  

One of my foundational studies, published in Communication Monographs, explored how adolescents perceive both their parents’ actual and ideal conversations about sex – revealing important gaps and opportunities for more open, thoughtful, and effective dialogue. Since then, my research has grown to include parent’s internal and external struggles during these talks – like the tensions between saying too much and not enough – as published in the Journal of Family Communication. I’ve also collaborated on interdisciplinary work that expands how we think about sexuality education and advocacy, featured in the American Journal of Sexuality Education. 

Outside of publishing, my research team and I design materials to support parents and caregivers in building confidence, language, and connection when talking to their kids about relationships and sex-related topics. Grounded in student collaboration and community connections, my work makes research practical, inclusive, and empowering for families.