Sexual intentions of black preadolescents: associations with risk and adaptive behaviors.
BACKGROUND
Adolescent sexual activity in the United states is prevalent and occurring increasingly early, particularly among minority groups. Other risk behaviors (e.g., alcohol consumption) often co-occur with sexual behavior. By examining the association of risk and adaptive behaviors with precursors of sexual behavior--specifically, sexual intentions--it may be possible to identify preadolescents who are at increased risk for early sexual initiation.


METHODS
Data from 1,090 black fourth and fifth graders and their parents from the Parents Matter! Program were used in logistic regression analyses to assess covariation between preadolescents' risk and adaptive behaviors, and their intentions to initiate sexual intercourse in the next year.


RESULTS
Risk and adaptive behaviors, as reported by both preadolescents and parents, were associated with sexual intentions; the findings were not qualified by youth's gender. Alcohol consumption and having been in trouble with the police were the primary youth-reported risk behaviors associated with the odds of intending to have intercourse (odds ratios, 2.3 and 1.8); the preadolescent's being in trouble at home was the primary parent-reported risk behavior (2.1). In both sets of reports, performing well on schoolwork was associated with reduced odds of intending to engage in sex (0.5 - 0.6).


CONCLUSIONS
Risk and adaptive behaviors are markers of sexual intentions among black preadolescents. Prevention programs can use these behaviors to identify black youth who may be at high risk for early sexual initiation.
Forehand
Rex
R
University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA. rex.forehand@uvm.edu
Gound
Mary
M
Kotchick
Beth A
BA
Armistead
Lisa
L
Long
Nicholas
N
Miller
Kim S
KS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010287:Parent-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States