title: Sexual behaviors and attitudes and ethnic identity during college.
abstract: This study examined ethnic differences in sexual behaviors and attitudes, and associations between ethnic identity commitment and sexual behaviors and attitudes. African American (32%), Latino American (29%), and European American (39%) first-year college students (N = 434; 52% female) completed surveys about their sexual behaviors (number of partners, condom use, and alcohol use before intercourse) and attitudes (conservative attitudes, condom-related beliefs, and fear of AIDS) and ethnic identity commitment. Analyses of covariance and hierarchical linear regressions were performed. Among the three groups, Latino Americans reported riskier condom-related behaviors and attitudes, whereas European Americans were less fearful of AIDS. Ethnic identity commitment was a protective factor against risky attitudes regardless of ethnicity. For sexual behaviors, however, ethnic identity served as a protective factor only for European Americans. This study contributes to the understanding of adolescents' sexuality during college and the role of ethnic identity in their sexual experiences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, PA 16802, USA. mue105@psu.edu
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Espinosa-Hernández
authors.forename: Eva S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Lefkowitz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology; D001290:Attitude / Q000208:ethnology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D012933:Social Identification; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult