Understanding Latino adolescent risk behaviors: parental and peer influences.
OBJECTIVE
To assess baseline factors associated with having ever drunk alcohol, smoked, and having had sex two years later among a sample of Latino adolescents.


METHODS
In a prospective cohort study, Latino adolescents completed telephone surveys assessing demographic information and health-enhancing and -compromising behaviors, administered 3 times (baseline, T2, and T3) during a two-year period.


METHODS
Students were recruited between 1997 and 1998, from four middle schools within three Los Angeles school districts.


METHODS
Latino adolescents in 7th and 8th grade, from any of the four middle schools, whose parents provided written permission for them to participate in a telephone health behavior survey.


METHODS
Self-report of ever drank alcohol, ever smoked cigarettes, ever had sex by T3.


RESULTS
Being more acculturated, engaging in risky behaviors, valuing independence, and having friends who had ever smoked at baseline were positively associated with having ever drunk alcohol and having ever smoked by T3. Parents' negative reactions to risky and unhealthy behaviors were protective against drinking and smoking. Working at a paid job and having parents with a high school education or higher were associated with drinking alcohol by T3. Older age at baseline was positively associated with having sex, while receiving good grades and valuing religion were protective against having sex.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings reveal that both parents and peers are important influences on adolescent risk behaviors and suggest that interventions for adolescents to prevent such behaviors should involve peers and parents.
Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 94143-0856, USA.
Jennifer C
JC
Livaudais
Anna
A
Napoles-Springer
Susan
S
Stewart
Celia Patricia
CP
Kaplan
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010379:Peer Group; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012309:Risk-Taking