Heterosexual Risk Behaviors Among Urban Young Adolescents

Bibliographic Data

ID11670691
AuthorsLydia O’donnell (0000-0003-1852-5721, Education Development Center, Inc.,, corresponding author), Ann Stueve (Education Development Center, Inc.), Renée Wilson-Simmons (Education Development Center, Inc.), Renée Wilson‐Simmons (Education Development Center), Kim Dash (Education Development Center, Inc.), Gail Agronick (Education Development Center, Inc.), Varzi JeanBaptiste (Education Development Center, Inc.)
Year2006
Volume26
Issue1
Pages87-109
Publication date2006-01-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Journal of Early Adolescence (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0272-4316 • E-ISSN: 1552-5449
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0272431605282653
OpenAlexW2152582609
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited51

Urban 6th graders (n = 294) participate in a survey assessing early heterosexual risk behaviors as part of the Reach for Health Middle Childhood Study. About half the boys (47%) and 20% of girls report having a girlfriend or boyfriend; 42% of boys and 10% of girls report kissing and hugging for a long time. Stepwise regressions model the relationships between heterosexual behaviors and gender, background characteristics, and parenting practices and peer influences. In the final model, being male, parental approval of having a girlfriend or a boyfriend, lower parental oversight of activities, having older or mixed-aged peers, and expressing peer norms supporting sexual behaviors are significant risk factors of heterosexual behaviors. Findings indicate the importance of parenting practices and peer influences on early sexual behaviors and inform strategies for helping urban young adolescents delay sexual initiation

Developmental psychology · Heterosexuality · Homosexuality · Peer group · Sexual behavior · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Child Abuse and Trauma · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology

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