Citation
Soller, B. & Haynie, D. L. (2013). Structuring the Future: Anticipated Life Events, Peer Networks, and Adolescent Sexual Behavior. Sociological Inquiry. vol. 83 (4) pp. 537-569 , PMCID: PMC3819429Abstract
While prior research has established associations between individual expectations of future events and risk behavior among adolescents, the potential effects of peers' future perceptions on risk-taking have been overlooked. We extend prior research by testing whether peers' anticipation of college completion is associated with adolescent sexual risk-taking. We also examine whether adolescents' perceptions of the negative consequences of pregnancy and idealized romantic relationship scripts mediate the association between peers' anticipation of college completion and sexual risk-taking. Results from multivariate regression models with data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) indicate peers' anticipation of college completion is negatively associated with a composite measure of sexual risk-taking and positively associated with the odds of abstaining from sexual intercourse and only engaging in intercourse with a romantic partner (compared to having intercourse with a non-romantic partner). In addition, perceptions of the negative consequences of pregnancy and sexualized relationship scripts appear to mediate a large portion of the association between peers' anticipation of future success and sexual risk-taking and the likelihood of abstaining (but not engaging in romantic-only intercourse). Results from our study underscore the importance of peers in shaping adolescent sexual behavior. © 2013 Alpha Kappa Delta.URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111%2Fsoin.12019Notes
Export Date: 4 September 2013Reference Type
Journal ArticleJournal Title
Sociological InquiryAuthor(s)
Soller, B.Haynie, D. L.