Barriers to Prevention: Ethnic and Gender Differences in Latino Adolescent Motivations for Engaging in Risky Behaviors (original) (raw)
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Using a sample from the Longitudinal Study of Adolescent health (Add health), we tested whether psychosocial motivation or health factors were the best predictors of sexual engagement by Latinos. The Latino sample (3,460) included sub samples of Mexican (n = 1587) Chicano (n = 137), Cuban (n = 501), Puerto Rican (n = 586), Central/South American (n = 367) adolescents and individuals self-identified as Hispanic other (n = 282). Our findings showed that most Latino adolescents understood that if they had unprotected sex they were at risk for HIV/ AIDS and STI's. Additionally, as we hypothesized, the motivation items were better predictors of sexual engagement than the health risk items. However, the motivation items were only significant for the females with one exception, the Mexican males. There were other subgroup differences as well. Our findings have important implications for prevention strategies.
Toward the Prevention of Risky Sexual Behavior Among Latina Youth
Oxford Handbooks Online, 2012
Sexual risk-taking among Latina youth has been noted as a critical health concern within the United States. In this chapter. the importance of prevention of risky sexual behavior among Latina youth will be discussed. Current prevalence rates and consequences associated with sexual behavior among Latino/as will be reviewed. along with factors that are relevant to understanding the prevention of sexual activity. Finally. programs that have been developed to prevent risky sexual behavior among Latinas will be reviewed and suggestions for prevention efforts will be presented. Key Words: Latino/. youth. adolescent. sexual activity. prevendon. teen pregnancy. risky behavior developmentally and emotionally mature (Driscoll, Biggs, Rrindis, & Yankah, 2001). Early sexual activity puts adolescents at risk for a variety of negative ourcomes across physical, psychological, and emotional domains (Driscoll et aI., 200l ; Kirby, 2007). Teens who are sexually active during early adolescence are more likely ro have unprotected sex and more sexual partners, and to panicipate in other risk behaviors such as using drugs and alcohol and dropping out of school (
The Context of Risky Behaviors for Latino Youth
Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 2004
Background and significance : Alarming numbers of Latino teens continue to engage in behaviors that place them at risk for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections including HIV. Design : This study includes data from six focus groups with 38 Latinas. The primary purpose of the focus groups was to elicit antecedents to unsafe sex to guide the development of an HIV-prevention intervention for adult Latinas. The data were reanalyzed using the rich content that had been elicited about community teens. Findings : Six major themes were identified surrounding teen issues and concerns. These are (a) the culture of risky behaviors; (b) romance: illusion and reality; (c) parental involvement: a protective factor; (d) HIV: knowledge versus ignorance; (e) HIV among youth: fear, stigma, and anger; and (f) saving our youth. Implications : A multimodal approach is required to help teens adopt healthy life styles, remain in school, and have a positive relationship with their parents.
Sexual Values and Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Latino Youths
Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2010
CONTEXT: Understanding Latino youths' sexual values is key to informing HIV prevention eff orts. Few studies have examined associations between culturally based sexual values and behaviors among Latinos.
Perspectives on sexual and reproductive health, 2014
Cultural variables have been associated with sexual risk behaviors among Latino youth, but findings across studies are inconsistent. A longitudinal study of acculturation patterns followed Latino youth in Southern California from 2005 to 2012. Data from 995 participants were used in logistic and ordered regression analyses to test whether cultural variables measured in high school were associated with sexual risk behaviors in emerging adulthood, and whether gender moderated these associations. The cultural value of respect for parents was negatively associated with participants' odds of reporting an earlier age at sexual debut (odds ratio, 0.8) and condom nonuse at most recent sexual intercourse (0.8). A measure of acculturation reflecting U.S. cultural practices was positively associated with the likelihood of being sexually experienced (1.2), having concurrent sexual partners (1.5) and, among males only, having a greater number of sexual partners (1.3). Second- and later-gener...
Risky sexual behaviors in first and second generation Hispanic immigrant youth
Journal of youth and adolescence, 2009
Though official data document that Hispanic youth are at a great risk for early sexual intercourse, STDs, and teen pregnancy, only few etiological studies have been conducted on Hispanic youth; almost no work has examined potential generational differences in these behaviors, and thus, these behaviors may have been mistakenly attributed to cultural differences. The current study examined the relationships between maternal parenting (general communication, communication about sex, monitoring, support) and risky sexual behaviors, and potential moderating effects by immigration status and acculturation in 1st and 2nd generation Hispanic immigrant adolescents (N = 2,016) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Waves I and II). Maternal communication about sex and maternal support emerged as key predictors of risky sexual behaviors across generational groups; neither immigration status nor acculturation moderated the maternal parenting constructs-risky sexual behaviors...
Objective: Examine the longitudinal association of generational status (first child and parent born outside the United States; second child born in the United States, parent born outside the United States; third child and parent born in the United States) and parent and peer social factors considered in 5th grade with subsequent oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse initiation by 7th and 10th grade among Latino/a youth. Method: Using data from Latino/a participants (N 1,790) in the Healthy Passages™ study, the authors measured generational status (first 18.4%, second 57.3%, third-generation 24.3%) and parental (i.e., monitoring, involvement, nurturance) and peer (i.e., friendship quality, social interaction, peer norms) influences in 5th grade and oral, vaginal, and anal intercourse initiation by 7th and 10th (retention 89%) grade. Results: Among girls, parental monitoring, social interaction, friendship quality, and peer norms predicted sexual initiation. Among boys, parental involvement, social interaction, and peer norms predicted sexual initiation (ps .05). When 1 friend was perceived to have initiated sexual intercourse, third-generation Latinas were more than twice as likely as first-and second-generation Latinas (ps .05) to initiate vaginal intercourse by 10th grade and almost 5 times as likely as first-generation Latinas to initiate oral intercourse by 7th grade. Conclusions: Among Latina youth, generational status play a role in social influences on vaginal and oral intercourse initiation. Moreover, Latinas and Latinos differ in which social influences predict sexual intercourse initiation. Preventive efforts for Latino/a youth may need to differ by gender and generational status.
Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, 2015
OBJECTIVE: to test a theoretical model based on the Parent-Based Expansion of the Theory of Planned Behavior examining relation between selected parental, teenager and cultural variables and Latino teenagers' intentions to engage in sexual behavior.METHOD: a cross-sectional correlational design based on a secondary data analysis of 130 Latino parent and teenager dyads.RESULTS: regression and path analysis procedures were used to test seven hypotheses and the results demonstrated partial support for the model. Parent familism and knowledge about sex were significantly associated with parents' attitudes toward sexual communication with their teenagers. Parent Latino acculturation was negatively associated with parents' self-efficacy toward sexual communication with their teenagers and positevely associated with parents' subjective norms toward sexual communication with their teenagers. Teenager knowledge about sex was significantly associated with higher levels of teen...
Cultural Factors and Family-Based HIV Prevention Intervention for Latino Youth
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2009
Latino youth are the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States and are at considerable risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), given that they have an earlier onset of sexual activity and use condoms less consistently than European American adolescents. Theorists and scholars have emphasized the importance of taking culture into account in sexuality interventions with Latino adolescents, yet few culturally tailored interventions have been developed for this population. Given the emphasis on familismo and collectivism among Latinos, family-based programs are likely to be well received and could contribute to long-term maintenance of adolescent safety. In this synthesis of the relevant literature, cultural factors that have been identified as relevant to Latino sexuality are reviewed and implications for family-based intervention with Latinos are addressed.