This study examined whether cultural values and gender moderate the association between mother-adolescent communication about sex and adolescents' sexual behavior/intention to engage in sex and condom use attitudes. One hundred and fifty Latino adolescents completed an anonymous survey that measured sexual health outcomes, mother-child communication, and cultural factors. In bivariate analyses, adolescents with a higher sense of familismo had a more positive attitude towards using condoms and more acculturated Latino adolescents were less likely to speak to their mothers about pre-coital or coital sexual topics. Females spoke more about sex with their mother, compared to males. Traditional gender roles moderated the relation between mother-adolescent communication about sex and condom use attitudes. Acculturation, familismo nor gender significantly moderated the relationship between communication about sex and sexual health outcomes. Further research should explore whether certain cultural factors influence parents to talk to their adolescent about specific topics related to sex.
The quantity and quality of parent-adolescent sexual communication has been suggested as the best predictor on adolescent sexual behavior. The purpose of this study was to test a theoretical model based on the Parent-Based Expansion of the Theory of Planned Behavior (PETPB) examining relationships between selected parental, adolescent and cultural variables and Latino adolescents' intentions to engage in sexual behavior. This study used a cross-sectional correlational design based on a secondary data analysis of 130 Latino parent and adolescent dyads. Regression and path analysis procedures were used to test seven research hypotheses and the results demonstrated partial support for the PETPB theory. For example, parent familism and parent knowledge about pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease were significantly associated with parents' attitudes toward sexual communication with their adolescents. Adolescent knowledge about pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease was significantly associated with higher levels of adolescents' attitudes and subjective norms about sexual communication with parents. Only the predictor of adolescents' attitudes toward having sex in the next 3 months was significantly associated with adolescents' intentions to have sex in the next 3 months. Findings suggested that girls who reported higher levels of parent-adolescent sexual communication were less likely to report favorable attitudes about having sex in the next 3 months; while, boys who reported higher levels parent-adolescent sexual communication were more likely to report positive attitudes to initiate sex in the next 3 months. The present study contributed to filling some of the gaps identified in the review of existing literature such as analyzing adolescents' and parents' reports of parent-adolescent general communication, sexual communication, and comfort with sexual communication, sample of parent/adolescent PETPB theory with and testing the Latino dyads living in the United States. Future studies should continue to explore the influence of parental communication on Latino adolescent sexual behavior based on adolescent gender.
Researchers' examination of Latino adolescents' cultural values and sexual activity has yielded questions regarding the cultural- and gender-specific attitudes and practices in this area (Deardorff, Tschann, & Flores, 2008). Cultural values include family-related variables such as different aspects of familism, parent-adolescent communication, and parental monitoring, which have been found to decrease adolescents' engagement in other negative activities such as aggressive behavior, (Dishion & McMahon, 1998), substance use (Estrada, Rabow, & Watts, 1982), and juvenile delinquency (Clark & Shields, 1997). Research investigating these risk behaviors has often implicated Latino adolescents' level of assimilation to White, mainstream society as a potential risk factor for higher engagement in negative behaviors, emphasizing the importance of better understanding the cultural context in which Latino youth live and how it may impact their risky behavior. This dissertation study, therefore, examined the relationship between five Latino family variables (i.e., attitudinal familism, behavioral familism, structural familism, parent-adolescent communication, and parental monitoring), assimilation to White culture, and the sexual activity beliefs and behaviors of Latino adolescents. A mixed-methods project explored and tested the relationships between these variables. Four gender-specific focus groups were conducted with adolescents; data were analyzed using Grounded Theory methodology (Strauss & Corbin, 1990). Also, 410 Latino youth completed quantitative surveys about their family-related behaviors, attitudes, and sexual activity. Relationships among these variables were tested using correlations and regressions. Primary findings from the qualitative study indicated that gender differences in Latino families' communication about sex and monitoring behaviors impacts Latina girls' and Latino boys' sexual activity beliefs. Differences observed with regard to gender were such that Latina girls' felt sexual activity was not appropriate for teenagers, whereas the boys felt that it was acceptable for teenagers to engage in sexual activity as long as they used a contraceptive method. Quantitative results indicated parental monitoring and some aspects of familism were found to be related to a decreased likelihood of engaging in sexual activity for the girls and boys. High assimilation to White, mainstream culture was not found to impact sexual activity beliefs or behaviors in the current study.
Risky sexual behavior is associated with many adverse health outcomes including sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. These outcomes are elevated among adolescents and emerging adults and cost the nation billions of dollars annually. Studies show that parental influences (socioeconomic status, monitoring, and communication) play a significant role in reducing risky sexual behaviors among teenagers. However, it is not generally known whether this influence continues into early adulthood, neither has it been studied specifically among the Hispanic/Latino population. Therefore, this study utilized secondary data obtained from Project RED (Reteniendo y Entendiento Diversidad para Salud) and explored whether or not parental factors, cultural identity and gender of 10th graders in Southern California will predict the use of condoms as emerging adults, an important health protective sexual behavior. Logistic regression was used to assess these predictive associations. The sample was composed of 57.6% females and 42.4% males. At Time 1, the respondents' mean age was 15.86 years and 20.93 years at Time 2. Findings of the study indicated that, for the sample, parental communication (OR = 1.116, p = .025) was the only parental factor predictive of condom use in emerging adulthood. However, these predictors lost significance in the aggregate logistic model. The implications of the findings for public health and health education are discussed. Several limitations that reduce the generalizability of the results of this study are also outlined.
Over one million U.S. teenagers become pregnant each year. In addition to pregnancy risk, adolescents are at risk for a variety of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including AIDS. Little is known regarding the multivariate contributions to adolescent sexual behavior. The following study was designed to test a Developmental Social-Learning Model of adolescent sexual behavior. According to this model, adolescent sexual behavior is a function of maturation, socio-demographic factors, and the social-learning influences of parents, school, media, and peers. These variables in turn impact the knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, social skills and drug use of the developing adolescent. Method. The Developmental Social-Learning Model of adolescent sexual behavior was tested in a sample of 404 Anglo and Latino adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17. Data were collected by a face-to-face interview and a videotaped role-play procedure assessing relevant social skills. Hierarchical regression analysis was calculated to assess the relative contribution of variable blocks to the variation in adolescent sexual activity. Hierarchical analyses were also calculated separately for males, females, Anglos, and Latinos. Lastly, hierarchical equations were calculated to assess the utility of the model in explaining the condom behavior of coitally active adolescents. Results. Each of the nine variables blocks contributed significantly to the hierarchical equation, accounting for a total of 58% of the variance in adolescent sexual activity. When calculated differentially for males, females, Anglos, and Latinos, the model remained highly significant for all groups. The hierarchical models of condom use accounted for 28% of the variance in condom use in the first relationship and 49% of the variance in condom use in the last six months. Conclusions. The significant contributions of the variable blocks to the variation in adolescent sexual activity supports the validity of the Developmental Social-Learning Model. Calculations of separate models for males, females, Anglos, and Latinos highlight several important distinctions between these groups. Finally, the application of the model to the condom behavior of coitally active adolescents provides a more thorough understanding of condom behavior and targets specific areas for future interventions.
Adolescents in psychiatric treatment are especially vulnerable to engage in sexual behavior that puts them at risk of HIV. They are more likely than other teens to be sexually active, more likely to have multiple partners, and less likely to use condoms (Arrufo, Gottlieb, Webb, & Neville, 1994; Brown, Danovsky et al., 1997; DiClemente & Ponton, 1993; Donenberg et al., 2001). Thus, understanding the factors related to high-risk sexual behavior among adolescents in psychiatric care is an important step in developing prevention and intervention programs to impede the spread of HIV among teenagers. Because adolescent sexual behavior takes place in a psychosocial context that includes family, partner, and intrapsychic influences, this study assessed links between parent-teen sexual communication, adolescent attitudes about negotiating risk situations with partners, and risky sexual behavior. Parent-teen communication about sex and HIV-risk was assessed through a videotaped discussion of fictional vignettes coded by a diverse team of raters. Adolescent partner negotiation attitudes and risky sexual behavior were obtained through self-report. Latent variable Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) tested a model linking three dimensions of parent-teen communication quality (positive quality, negative quality, instrumental quality) indirectly to adolescent sexual risk-taking through association with adolescents' attitudes about negotiating sexual situations with partners. An alternate model including direct links between parent communication and risky sexual behavior was also tested. Multiple regressions tested the moderating effects of age, gender, ethnicity, and symptoms of depression and conduct disorder. Results indicated that partner negotiation attitudes were negatively associated with sexual risk-taking, but parent-teen communication was not associated with partner negotiation attitudes or with risky sex. The relationship between partner negotiation attitudes and risky sex was only significant for older teens, and positive parent-teen communication was associated with increased sexual risk-taking for teens with lower symptoms of depression. Findings from this study support implementation of interventions to strengthen partner negotiation skills and attitudes among teens in psychiatric treatment. Findings also suggest that the relationship between parent-teen communication quality and risky sex may not exist or may be different for families affected by psychiatric problems.
Here is an invaluable resource to help professionals understand the broad range of issues and challenges that adolescents face as they grapple with their sexuality. This highly informative volume addresses the most compelling issues of adolescent sexuality. Sexual orientation, acquaintance rape, new social roles, and sexually transmitted diseases are among the numerous topics that social workers confront daily in helping adolescents define and seek solutions to their sex-related concerns. Adolescent Sexuality highlights the importance of innovative approaches and client empowerment in prevention and treatment programs for youth, particularly in this era of declining federal support. This timely volume reveals the reluctance of adolescents to confide in their families; therefore, experts offer valuable suggestions for social workers to strengthen and use community resources--the church, family planning agencies, schools, and support groups--to supplement the efforts of many families.
