Sequence of sexual behavior and its relationship to other problem behaviors in African American and Puerto Rican adolescents.
This study examined the sequence of sexual behavior of 695 African American and 637 Puerto Rican adolescents and the relationship of this sequence to other problem behavior measures. Analyses indicated that adolescents proceed through four stages of sexual behavior: no involvement, then deep kissing, then petting, and, finally, sexual intercourse. The sequence was similar in both ethnic groups and seemed both unidimensional and cumulative. In addition, for both ethnic groups the degree of sexual involvement was significantly related to the level of drug use and to the frequency of delinquent behavior, thereby suggesting an underlying problem behavior syndrome. Directions for future research are suggested.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, New York Medical College.
J S
JS
Brook
E B
EB
Balka
T
T
Abernathy
B A
BA
Hamburg
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011606:Psychosexual Development; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population