Predictors of sixth graders engaging in sexual intercourse.
Researchers explored factors related to sixth graders' sexual behavior. First, level of sexual behavior and sexual behavior intentions were examined. Second, health-related risk behaviors and constructs from Social Support and Social Cognitive theories were analyzed based on race and gender to determine their predictive value for sixth graders engaging in sexual intercourse. Findings indicated that very few sixth graders engaged in sexual intercourse or in high-risk behaviors such as smoking. Of the risk factors examined, smoking was the highest predictor of engaging in sexual intercourse for all categories of race and gender. Of the constructs, Efficacy Expectations consistently predicted engaging in sexual intercourse for all race and gender categories.
Robinson
K L
KL
Dept. of Health Promotion and Kinesiology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte 28223, USA. lyrobins@email.uncc.edu
Telljohann
S K
SK
Price
J H
JH
D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires