Risky sexual behaviors in first and second generation Hispanic immigrant youth

Citation

Trejos-Castillo, Elizabeth & Vazsonyi, Alexander T. (2009). Risky sexual behaviors in first and second generation Hispanic immigrant youth. Journal of Youth and Adolescence. vol. 38 (5) pp. 719-731

Abstract

Though official data document that Hispanic youth are at a great risk for early sexual intercourse, STDs, and teen pregnancy, only few etiological studies have been conducted on Hispanic youth; almost no work has examined potential generational differences in these behaviors, and thus, these behaviors may have been mistakenly attributed to cultural differences. The current study examined the relationships between maternal parenting (general communication, communication about sex, monitoring, support) and risky sexual behaviors, and potential moderating effects by immigration status and acculturation in 1st and 2nd generation Hispanic immigrant adolescents (N = 2,016) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Waves I and II). Maternal communication about sex and maternal support emerged as key predictors of risky sexual behaviors across generational groups; neither immigration status nor acculturation moderated the maternal parenting constructs-risky sexual behaviors links. Furthermore, maternal parenting constructs and their relationships with risky sexual behaviors did not differ by generational groups.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10964-008-9369-5

Keyword(s)

Sexual Behavior Sexual Behavior

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Journal of Youth and Adolescence

Author(s)

Trejos-Castillo, Elizabeth
Vazsonyi, Alexander T.

Year Published

2009

Volume Number

38

Issue Number

5

Pages

719-731

DOI

10.1007/s10964-008-9369-5

Reference ID

971