title: Age at migration, family instability, and timing of sexual onset.
abstract: This study builds on and extends previous research on nativity variations in adolescent health and risk behavior by addressing three questions: (1) whether and how generational status and age at migration are associated with timing of sexual onset among U.S. adolescents; (2) whether and how family instability mediates associations between nativity and sexual debut; and (3) whether and how these associations vary by gender. We find that first- and second-generation immigrant youth initiate sexual activity later than native youth. Foreign-born youth who migrate after the start of adolescence exhibit the latest sexual onset; boys' sexual behavior is particularly sensitive to age at migration. Parental union stability is protective for first- and second-generation youth, especially boys; however, instability in co-residence with parents accelerates sexual debut for foreign-born girls, and dilutes protections from parental marital stability. Use of a non-English language at home delays sexual onset for immigrant girls, but not boys.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, University of California Irvine, 3151 Social Science Plaza, Irvine, CA 92697-5700, USA. Electronic address: rachel.goldberg@uci.edu.
authors.forename: Rachel E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Princeton University, Wallace Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544-2091, USA; Woodrow Wilson School of International and Public Affairs, Princeton University, Wallace Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544-2091, USA. Electronic address: tienda@princeton.edu.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tienda
authors.affiliation: Woodrow Wilson School of International and Public Affairs, Princeton University, Wallace Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544-2091, USA. Electronic address: adsera@princeton.edu.
authors.forename: Alícia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adserà
keywords: Adolescent; Family instability; Immigrant; Sexual behavior