New York, Oct 10 (IANS): Gay and bisexual youth who get support from family are less likely to be engage in risky sexual behaviours, finds a study.

Researchers found that positive family relationships and open dialogue led to an increase in safe-sex practices including the use of condoms among such populations.

On the other hand, “disrupted” family relationships resulted in risky sexual activities.

“Youth had limited engagement in unsafe sex when the families were able to have open, reciprocal discussions that were low in disagreement. Close family connections seemed to provide a context for safety,” Michael LaSala, researcher from Rutgers University's school of social work, told Medical Xpress website.

For the study, LaSala and his colleagues recorded interviews with 38 gay and bisexual male youth between age 14 and 21 for over a period of 18 months.

They found that parent-child closeness emerged as the most effective influence for youth in avoiding high-risk sexual behaviour.

Closeness was typified by acceptance of the child's sexual orientation and open communication about a variety of factors including the importance of safe sex, the study found.

The paper appeared in the Journal of Marital & Family Therapy.