Browsing by Subject "Adolescent Behavior"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Adolescent relationship violence and acculturation among NYC Latinos
    (Springer-Verlag, 2015-07) DuPont-Reyes, Melissa; Fry, Deborah; Rickert, Vaughn; Davidson, Leslie L.; Department of Pediatrics, IU School of Medicine
    Acculturation has been shown to positively and negatively affect Latino health. Little research investigates the overlap between acculturation and the different types of relationship violence among Latino youth and most research in this area predominantly involves Mexican-American samples. The current study examined associations between indices of acculturation (language use at home, chosen survey language, and nativity) and relationship physical violence and sexual coercion, both received and delivered, among predominantly Dominican and Puerto Rican adolescents from New York City. From 2006 to 2007, 1,454 adolescents aged 13-21 years in New York City completed an anonymous survey that included the Conflict in Adolescent Relationships Inventory which estimates experiences of physical violence and sexual coercion, both received and delivered, in the previous year. This analysis includes bivariate and multivariate methods to test the associations between language use at home, chosen survey language, and nativity with the different types of relationship violence. Among females, there is a significant association between language use at home and overall level of acculturation with delivering and receiving relationship physical violence; however, we did not find this association in delivering and receiving relationship sexual coercion. We found no association between acculturation and any type of relationship violence among males. Among Latina females, language spoken at home is an indicator of other protective factors of physical relationship violence. Future research in this area should explore the potential protective factors surrounding relationship violence among Latina females of various subgroups using comprehensive measures of acculturation, household composition and family engagement.
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    Adolescent women's daily academic behaviors, sexual behaviors, and sexually related emotions
    (Elsevier, 2014-12) Hensel, Devon J.; Sorge, Brandon H.; Department of Pediatrics, IU School of Medicine
    PURPOSE: Emerging literature suggests that the emotional and behavioral experience in young women's romantic/sexual relationships may link to their academic success. However, existing studies' reliance on retrospective and/or global measures prevents detailed understanding of how and when specific academic experiences link to specific relationship experiences and whether these associations could vary over different school days. METHODS: Adolescent women (N = 387; 14-17 years at enrollment) were recruited from primary care adolescent clinics for a longitudinal cohort study of sexual relationships and sexual behavior. Participants provided daily diary information on academic behaviors, sexual emotions, and sexual behaviors. Chi-square and generalized estimating equation ordinal logistic or linear regression, respectively, assessed prevalence of sexual behaviors or differences in sexual emotions when academic behaviors did and did not occur. RESULTS: Young women's weekday reports of skipping school or failing a test were significantly linked to more frequent vaginal sex, less frequent condom use, and different levels of sexual emotions, on that same day. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide evidence that the emotional and behavioral experiences in young women's romantic/sexual relationships may impact young women's reaction to academic events.
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    Factors influencing abstinence, anticipation, and delay of sex among adolescent boys in high-STI prevalence communities
    (Elsevier, 2014-05) Cummings, Teresa; Auerswald, Colette L.; Ott, Mary A.; Department of Pediatrics, IU School of Medicine
    Purpose Abstinence is a core pregnancy and STI prevention strategy. We explore the attitudinal, behavioral, and family contexts relating to abstinence and the decision to delay sex among adolescent boys. Methods Adolescent boys ages 14–17 were recruited from community sites using a venue-based sampling method. All eligible boys at venues were invited to participate in an electronic survey. Question items included sexual behaviors, attitudes related to sex, relationships, masculine values, and family contextual items. Results We enrolled 667 participants, age 15.7 years, of diverse ethnicity. 252 (38%) were abstinent. Abstinent participants were younger, less likely to report non-coital behaviors, and reported lower conventional masculine values. Among abstinent participants, 62% planned to delay sex, while 38% anticipated sex in the next year. Participants with lower conventional masculine values, and more religious or moral motivations for abstinence were more likely to plan to delay sex. Discussion Abstinence among boys is common, even in high STI risk communities. For these boys, abstinence appears to be a complex behavioral decision, influenced by demographic, behavioral, attitudinal and contextual factors such as age, race, non-coital sexual behaviors and masculine values. Understanding the attitudes and contexts of abstinence, including plans to delay sex, can inform the development of public health programs for early fatherhood and STI prevention.
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    Longitudinal associations among relationship factors, partner change, and sexually transmitted infection acquisition in adolescent women
    (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2011-03) Ott, Mary A.; Katschke, Adrian; Tu, Wanzhu; Fortenberry, J. Dennis; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    OBJECTIVES: New sex partners put adolescents at increased risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), even when these sex partners are nonoverlapping. Although the risk of partner change is well described, little is known about its antecedents. We prospectively examined associations between relationship characteristics, partner change, and subsequent STI during intervals of "serial monogamy." METHODS: As part of a longitudinal study, 332 adolescent women were interviewed and tested for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomonas every 3 months for up to just over 6 years. Interviews covered partner-specific relationship characteristics and sexual behaviors. The quarterly interval, a 3-month period bracketed by interviews and STI testing, was the unit of analysis. We examined associations among relationship factors, partner change, and subsequent STI using a series of mixed regression models, controlling for age, STI at Time 1, and condom nonuse. RESULTS: Age, lower relationship quality, and lower levels of partner closeness to friends and family predicted partner change from Time 1 to Time 2. In turn, partner change was associated with acquisition of a new STI at Time 2. Although relationship factors did not exert a direct effect on STI at Time 2, they improved partner change-STI model fit. Similar patterns were seen with each organism. CONCLUSION: Relationship factors drive partner change, which in turn contributes to STI acquisition. STI prevention research may need to focus on the relationship antecedents to partner change, in addition to the partner change itself.