Oz parents ok with kids having premarital sex but not in family home

Melbourne: Most Australian parents don’t have a problem with their kids having premarital sex, but a number of them are not comfortable with them doing so in their family home, according to a new survey.

A survey of 500 parents conducted by TV station SBS found that 80 percent parents think sex before marriage is acceptable, but one in four still would not let their child share a bed with their boyfriend or girlfriend in the family home.

The survey also found that almost one in five parents thought it was acceptable for young people to start having sex at age 16.

According to Samantha Aldridge, a psychologist from Relationships Australia, the findings were consistent with what the organisation found when counselling parents.

“Whilst the majority of parents are becoming more comfortable with sex before marriage, they still ... feel less comfortable about their children having sexual relationships under their roof,” News.com.au quoted her as saying.