title: Testing the theory of reasoned action in explaining sexual behavior among African American young teen girls.
abstract: This study tested the Theory of Reasoned Action to examine the prediction of early sexual behavior among African American young teen girls. Baseline data from a longitudinal randomized clinical trial were used. Between 2001 and 2005, 198 middle-school girls aged 11 to 14 years were recruited. As girls aged, they held more permissive attitudes toward engaging in early sexual behavior and had a higher intention to engage in early sexual behavior. Intention was a significant predictor to explain sexual behavior among the girls. There is a need to develop strategies that promote intention related to delay and prevention of early sexual behavior.
authors: Department of Health Promotion & Development, School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. wdo100@pitt.edu
authors: Willa M
authors: WM
authors: Doswell
authors: Betty J
authors: BJ
authors: Braxter
authors: Eunseok
authors: E
authors: Cha
authors: Kevin H
authors: KH
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States