This article explores the influence of demographic, sociocultural, and risk proneness indicators on age at first intercourse, number of lifetime sexual partners, and number of pregnancies in a sample of 670 Latina adolescents age 14-19 recruited from two publicly funded familyplanning clinics. Acculturation accounted for a small but statisticallysignificant amount of the variation explained for all three reproductive behaviors. Being less acculturated was associated with older age at initiation of sexual intercourse, fewer lifetime sexual partners, and fewer pregnancies. Substance experimentation was associated with earlier sexual debut and more sexual partners but with fewer pregnancies. Gender role orientation was significant onlyfor age at first intercourse. More traditional young women were older at sexual debut. These results suggest that gender role orientation is important for delaying first intercourse, but once sexually active, acculturation and substance experimentation become more important influences on sexual risk taking among Latina adolescents.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Aneshensel, C. S.
, Dielder, E., & Becerra, R. M. (1989). Fertility and fertility-related behavior among Mexican-American and non-Hispanic White female adolescents. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 30(March), 56-76.
2.
Aneshensel, C. S.
, Frerichs, R. R., Clark, V. A., & Yokopenic, P. A. (1982). Telephone versus in-person surveys of community health status. American Journal of Public Health, 72,1017-1021.
3.
Bean, F.
, & Tienda, M. (1987). The Hispanic population of the United States. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
4.
Becerra, R. M.
, & de Anda, D. (1984). Pregnancy and motherhood among Mexican American adolescents. Health and Social Work, 9(2), 106-123.
5.
Betancourt, H.
, & Lopez, S. (1993). The study of culture, ethnicity, and race in American psychology. American Psychologist, 48(6), 629-637.
6.
Brindis, C. D.
, Wolfe, A. L., McCarter, V., Ball, S., & Starbuck-Morales, S. (1995). The associations between immigrant status and risk-behaviors patterns in Latino adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 17(2), 99-105.
7.
Burton, L. M.
(1990). Teenage childbearing as an alternative life course strategy in multigenerational Black families. Human Nature, 1(2), 123-143.
8.
Campbell, K.
, & Kaplan, C. P. (1996). The relationship between language orientation and cigarette smoking beliefs of Latinas. American Journal Health Behavior, 21(1), 12-20.
9.
Cuellar, I.
, Harris, L., & Jasso, R. (1980). An acculturation scale for Mexican American normal and clinical populations. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 2(3), 199-217.
10.
Darabi, K. F.
, & Ortiz, V. (1987). Childbearing among young Latino women in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 77(1), 25-28.
11.
Donovan, J. E.
, & Jessor, R. (1985). Structure of problem behavior in adolescence and young adulthood. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53,890-904.
12.
Dryfoos, J. G.
(1982). The epidemiology of adolescent pregnancy: Incidence, outcomes and interventions. In I. R. Stuart & C. F. Wells (Eds.), Pregnancyin adolescence: Needs problems and management. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
13.
Dryfoos, J. G.
(1990). Adolescents at risks: Prevalence and prevention. New York: Oxford University Press.
14.
DuRant, R. H.
, Pendergast, R., & Seymore, C. (1990). Sexual behavior among Hispanic females adolescents in the United States. Pediatrics, 85(6), 1051-1058.
15.
Erickson, P. I.
(1994). Lessons from a repeat pregnancy prevention program for Hispanic teen mothers in East Los Angeles. Family Planning Perspectives, 26(4), 174-178.
16.
Erickson, P. I.
(1998). Latina adolescent childbearing in East Los Angeles. Austin: University of Texas Press.
17.
Erickson, P. I.
, & Kaplan, C. P. (1998). Latinas and abortion. In L. J. Beckman & S. M. Harvey (Eds.), The new civil war: The psychology, culture, and politics of abortion (pp. 133-156). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
18.
Geronimus, A. T.
(1991). Teenage childbearing and social and reproductive disadvantage: The evolution of complex questions and the demise of simple answers. Family Relations, 40,463-471.
19.
Gomez, C. A.
, & Marin, B. V. (1996). Gender, culture, and power: Barriers to HIV-prevention strategies for women. Journal of Sex Research, 33(4), 355-362.
20.
Henshaw, S.
, & Kost, K. (1997). Abortion patients in 1994-1995: Characteristics and contraceptive use. Family Planning Perspectives, 28(4), 140-147.
21.
Henshaw, S. K.
, & Silverman, J. (1988). The characteristic and prior contraceptive use of U. S. abortion patients. Family Planning Perspectives, 20(4), 158-168.
22.
Jessor, R.
, & Jessor, S. (1977). Problem behavior and psychosocial development: A longitudinal study of youth. New York: Academic Press.
23.
Joyce, T.
(1988). The social and economic correlates of pregnancy resolution among adolescents in New York City, by race and ethnicity: A multivariate analysis. American Journal of Public Health, 78(6), 626-631.
24.
Kandel, D.
, & Logan, J. (1984). Patterns of drug use from adolescence to young adulthood: Periods of risk for initiation, continued use and discontinuation. American Journal of Public Health, 74,660-666.
25.
Kaplan, C. P. (1990). Critical factors affecting school dropout among Mexican American women. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles.
26.
Kaplan, C. P.
, & Tanjasiri, S. P. (1996). Smoking prevalence among young Latina women: Assessment of two interview methodologies. Drug Use and Misuse, 31(8), 947-963.
27.
Leibowitz, A.
, Eisen, M., & Chow, W. K. (1986). An economic model of teenage pregnancy decision making. Demography, 23,67-79.
28.
Luker, K.
(1996). Dubious conceptions: The politics of teenage pregnancy. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
29.
Lye, D.
, & Waldron, I. (1998). Relationshipof substance use to attitudes toward gender roles, family and cohabitation. Journal of Substance Abuse, 10,185-198.
30.
Mainous, A.
(1989). Self-concept as an indicator of acculturation in Mexican-Americans. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 11(2), 178-189.
31.
Marín, B. V.
, Gomez, C. A., Tschann, J. M., & Gregorich, S. E. (1997). Condom use in unmarried Latino men: A test of cultural constructs. Health Psychology, 16(5), 458-467.
32.
Marín, B. V.
, Tschann, J. M., Gomez, C. A., & Kegels, S. M. (1993). Acculturation and gender differences in sexual attitudes and behavior: A comparison of Hispanic and non-Hispanic White unmarried adults. American Journal Public Health, 83,1759-1761.
33.
Marín, G.
, Marín, B. V., Otero-Sabogal, R., Sabogal, F., & Pérez-Stable, E. J. (1989). The role of acculturation in the attitudes, norms and expectancies of Hispanic smokers. Journal of Cross Cultural Psychology, 20(4), 399-415.
34.
Marín, G.
, Sabogal, F., Marín, B. V., Otero-Sabogal, R., & Pérez-Stable, E. J. (1987). Development of a short acculturation scale for Hispanics. Hispanic Journal of the Behavioral Sciences, 9,183-205.
35.
Marks, G.
, Solis, J., Richardson, J. L., Collins, L. M., Birba, L., & Hisserich, J. C. (1987). Health behavior of elderly Hispanic women: Does cultural assimilation make a difference?American Journal of Public Health, 77(10), 1315-1319.
36.
Mathews, T. J.
, Ventura, S. J., Curtin, S. C., & Martin, J. A. (1998). Births of Hispanic origin, 1989-1995. Monthly Vital Statistics Report, 46(6), 1-28.
37.
Mensch, B.
, & Kandel, D. (1992). Drug use as a risk factor for premarital teen pregnancy and abortion in a national sample of young White women. Demography, 29(3), 409-429.
38.
Michaud, P. A.
, Ferron, C., & Narring, F. (1996). Immigrant status and risk behaviors [Letter to the editor]. Journal of Adolescent Health, 19(6), 378-380.
39.
Mosher, W. D.
, & Bachrach, C. A. (1987). First premarital contraceptive use: United States 1960-1982. Studies in Family Planning, 18(2), 83-95.
40.
Mosher, W. D.
, & McNally, J. W. (1991). Contraceptive use at first premarital intercourse, United States, 1965-1988. Family Planning Perspectives, 23(3), 165-172.
41.
Mott, F. L.
, & Huarin, R. J. (1988). Linkages between sexual activity and alcohol and drug use among American adolescents. Family Planning Perspectives, 20,128-136.
42.
Namerow, P.
, & Jones, J. E. (1982). Ethnic variation in adolescent use of a contraceptive service. Journal of Adolescent Health Care, 3(3), 165-172.
43.
Nathanson, C. A.
(1991). Dangerous passage: The social control of sexualityin women’s adolescence. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
44.
Pavich, E. G.
(1986). A Chicana perspective on Mexican culture and sexuality. Journal of Social Work and Human Sexuality, 4(3), 47-65.
45.
Rapkin, A. J.
, & Erickson, P. I. (1990). Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: Ethnic differences in knowledge and risk factors among women in an urban family planning clinic. AIDS, 4(9), 889-899.
46.
Reynoso, T.
, Felice, M., & Shragg, P. (1993). Does American acculturation affect outcome of Mexican-American teenage pregnancy?Journal of Adolescent Health, 14,257-261.
47.
Torres, A.
, & Singh, S. (1986). Contraceptive practices among Hispanic adolescents. Family Planning Perspectives, 18(4), 193-194.
48.
Velez, C. N.
, & Ungemack, J. A. (1989). Drug use among Puerto Rican youth: An exploration of generational status differences. Social Science and Medicine, 29(6), 779-789.
49.
Waldron, I.
, & Lye, D. (1990). Relationships between teenage smoking and attitudes towards women’s rights, sex roles, marriage, sex and family. Women and Health, 16(3/4), 23-46.
50.
Warren, C. W.
, Kann, L., Small, L. L., Santelli, J. S., Collins, J. L., & Kolbe, L. J. (1997). Age of initiating selected health-risk behaviors among high school students in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health, 21(4), 225-231.
51.
Williams, N.
(1990). The Mexican-American family: Tradition and change. New York: General Hall.
52.
Zabin, L. S.
, & Hayward, S. C. (1993). Adolescent sexual behavior and childbearing (Vol. 26). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
