Description
Sexual risk taking is prevalent in adolescence, particularly among Latino teens, and can have serious consequences in the form of contraction of STIs, HIV, and increased risk of unintended pregnancy. Family contexts characterized by conflict and lack of support are antecedents of adolescent sexual risk taking, but evidence elucidating the mechanisms underlying this association is lacking. The current study sought to test two potential pathways to sexual risk taking within the framework of social developmental theory, among a sample of 189 Mexican origin adolescents and their caregivers interviewed in the 7th, 8th, and 12th grades. Structural equation modeling was utilized to examine pathways from 7th grade family risk to age of sexual initiation, number of lifetime sexual partners, and condom nonuse reported in the 12th grade. Deviant peer affiliations and academic engagement at 8th grade were tested as mediators of this relationship for boys and girls. Results confirm the importance of the family context, with family risk exerting direct effects on the number of lifetime sexual partners for both genders, and on age of sexual initiation for females only. Deviant peer affiliations serve as a mediator of family risk for males, but not females. When included in a model alongside deviant peers, academic engagement does not play the hypothesized mediating role between family risk and any of the sexual risk outcomes. Future research ought to consider additional mediators that better account for the relation between family risk and sexual risk taking among females.
Details
Title
- Family risk and adolescent sexual risk taking: testing academic and peer mediation
Contributors
- Jensen, Michaeline R (Author)
- Gonzales, Nancy A. (Thesis advisor)
- Lopez, Vera (Committee member)
- Millsap, Roger (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Date Created
The date the item was original created (prior to any relationship with the ASU Digital Repositories.)
2012
Subjects
- psychology
- public health
- academic engagement
- Adolescence
- Latino
- Mexican origin
- peer
- sexual risk
- Dysfunctional families
- Friendship in adolescence
- Mexican American teenagers--Sexual behavior.
- Mexican American teenagers
- Mexican American teenagers--Family relationships.
- Mexican American teenagers
- Mexican American teenagers--Education.
- Mexican American teenagers
Resource Type
Collections this item is in
Note
- thesisPartial requirement for: M.A., Arizona State University, 2012
- bibliographyIncludes bibliographical references (p. 48-58)
- Field of study: Psychology
Citation and reuse
Statement of Responsibility
by Michaeline R. Jensen