Sexual risk taking among Latino adolescents has been shown to vary across immigrant generations. While previous research has examined the relation among various factors, such as family-based, sex-focused communication and parent acculturation, that influence Latino youth sexual risk taking, a conceptual model had not yet been proposed. Additionally, the role of fathers in the development of sexual behavior has rarely been examined. This dissertation provides a theoretically-driven model that can help researchers conceptualize the development of sexual behavior among Latino youth.
The existing research has focused on stereotypical perceptions of Latinas as frequently dropping out of school, becoming teen mothers, or being involved with boyfriends in gangs. Latina Girls brings together cutting edge research that challenges these stereotypes.
Effective familial communication regarding adolescent sexual health is recurrently identified as an important protective factor against high-risk sexual behavior, and is considered a valuable and necessary component of prevention. This is especially true for Latino adolescents who are disproportionately affected by unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, and for whom family-based interventions are the most efficacious. Unfortunately, sexual risk prevention research has generally excluded the role of culture in the design and implementation of sexual health interventions. This critical omission has generated interventions that conceivably lack cultural sensitivity, and run the risk of failure if their design contradicts the cultural beliefs and values of the targeted population. The purpose of this study was to investigate, among demographically comparable samples of Mexican-American parents, potential barriers to sexual health and safety communication that may be associated with cultural norms, beliefs and values.
The objective of this study was to examine generational status differences in the longitudinal associations between early parent-child sex communication, dating behaviors, and subsequent sex initiation, as mediated by perceived peer norms, attitudes, and intentions among Latina/o adolescents. Using data from the Healthy PassagesTM project, Latina girls (n = 879) and Latino boys (n = 885) who were identified as 1st- (18%), 2nd- (58%), and 3rd- (24%) immigrant generational status reported on their dating behaviors and parent-child communication about sex at 5th grade (M age = 11.12), their perceived peer norms, attitudes, and intentions regarding sex at 7th grade (M age = 13.11), and if they had initiated sexual intercourse at 10th grade (M age = 16.06). Third-generation Latina girls were more likely than 1st- and 2nd-generation Latinas to have initiated sexual intercourse by 10th grade. Dating behaviors had a positive association with sex initiation for all generational status groups among Latino boys, but only among 1st-generation Latina girls. Moreover, mediating decision-making processes of peer norms, attitudes, and intentions differed for each group. Results demonstrate that pre-adolescent behaviors appear to have long-term influence on an adolescents' sexual behaviors. Acculturation differences may contribute to different ways in which adolescents decide to engage in sexual intercourse based on previous dating experience.
This mixed methods study examined the influences of acculturation (e.g., assimilation and enculturation), marianismo, and ethnic identity on the sexual behaviors and attitudes of Latina adolescents. In the quantitative portion of the study, 204 Latina adolescents completed measures regarding acculturation, gender roles, ethnic identity, and sexual behaviors. In the qualitative portion of the study, three focus groups were conducted (with a total of 10 participants) in which Latina youth were asked questions regarding their ethnic group membership and its influence on their attitudes about sex. The results of the quantitative portion of the study revealed that ethnic affirmation was negatively associated with the variable "ever had sex." Ethnic affirmation was positively associated with contraception use at first sexual intercourse and ethnic identity achievement was positively associated with age of first sexual intercourse. Additionally, there was a significant interaction between ethnic affirmation and assimilation for age at first sexual intercourse, such that participants who reported high levels of assimilation and low levels of ethnic affirmation reported a younger age of first sexual intercourse than those who reported a high level of assimilation and a high level of ethnic affirmation. The qualitative results revealed that the participants live in a cultural context characterized by ethnic pride and biculturalism. Experiences of discrimination, awareness of negative stereotypes, and bicultural difficulties are also important aspects of the cultural context of the Latina youth. The cultural context of these adolescents helped to shape their sexual attitudes. The core sexual attitude expressed by the majority of the Latina youth was that marriage is a necessary condition for them to engage in sexual activity. The qualitative results also revealed how gender roles, cultural differences, family values, personal knowledge, peer pressure, and stressors/abuse shape the core sexual attitude of the Latina adolescents. Specifically gender roles, cultural differences, family values, and personal knowledge discouraged them from engaging in sexual activity, while peer pressure and stressors/abuse encouraged them to engage in sexual activity. Convergence and divergence between the qualitative and quantitative data are identified and explained. Limitations and implications of the current study and future directions are also discussed.
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.
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.
