title: Latino youths' sexual values and condom negotiation strategies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Young Latinos in the United States are at high risk for STDs and are less likely than other youth to use condoms. To our knowledge, no studies have examined the relationship between sexual values and condom negotiation strategies among young Latinos.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data collected in 2003-2006 from 571 Latino women and men aged 16-22 in the San Francisco Bay Area were used to examine associations between sexual values (e.g., considering sexual talk disrespectful or female virginity important) and use of strategies to engender or avoid condom use. Linear regression analyses were used to identify such associations while adjusting for potential covariates and gender interactions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among women, sexual comfort and comfort with sexual communication were positively associated with frequency of direct communication to foster condom use; the importance of female premarital virginity and levels of sexual self-acceptance were positively associated with expressing dislike of condoms to avoid using them; and levels of sexual self-acceptance were negatively associated with expressing dislike of condoms to avoid using them. Moreover, the degrees to which women considered sexual talk disrespectful and female virginity important were positively associated with the frequency with which they shared risk information as a condom use strategy. Among both sexes, the importance that respondents placed on premarital female virginity was negatively associated with use of direct communication strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Researchers designing interventions to influence Latino youths' sexual decision making and behaviors should consider including program components that address sexual values.
authors.affiliation: Julianna Deardorff is assistant professor, and Emily J. Ozer is associate professor, Division of Community Health and Human Behavior, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley.
authors.forename: Julianna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deardorff
authors.forename: Jeanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tschann
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: Cynthia L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: de Groat
authors.forename: Julia R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Emily J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Ozer
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D017280:Condoms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017008:Negotiating / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D012495:San Francisco; D012737:Sex Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D019529:Sexuality / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D012945:Social Values / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult