In this article, the authors present the results of the analysis of the baseline data from Keepin’it R.E.A.L.!, an HIV prevention project developed for mothers and their adolescents. Six hundred twelve mostly male (60.6%) and African American (98.2%) adolescents completed baseline assessments. Eleven percent of the adolescent participants reported initiating sexual intercourse. Adolescent participants expressing higher levels of self-efficacy to resist peer pressure, more favorable outcome expectancies, less communication about sex with their mothers, higherlevels of self-concept related to theirbehavior, lowerlevels of self-concept related to popularity, and less stress reported fewer types of intimate sexual behaviors. Adolescent participants who reported higher self-efficacy to resist peer pressure to have sex and lower levels of stress were less likely to have initiated sexual inter-course. Selected characteristics of mothers did not contribute to understanding factors associated with intimate sexual behaviors or initiation of sexual intercourse among adolescent participants.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report (Vol. 12, No. 1). Atlanta, GA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2000.
2.
2. Lindegren ML, Hanson C, Miller K, Byers RH, Jr., Onorato I: Epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus infection in adolescents, United States. Pediatr Infect Dis J13(6): 525-535, 1994.
3.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 1997. Atlanta, GA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1998.
4.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Sexual behavior among high school students— United States, 1990. MMWR40(51): 885-888, 1992.
5.
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance. Atlanta, GA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of STD Prevention, 1996.
6.
6. St. Lawrence JS, Jefferson KW, Alleyne E, Brasfield TL: Comparison of education versus behavioral skills training interventions in lowering sexual HIV risk behavior of substance-dependent adolescents. J Consult Clin Psychol63(1): 154-157, 1995.
7.
7. Jemmott JB, Jemmott LS: Interventions for adolescents in community settings, in DiClemente RJ, Peterson JL (eds.): Preventing AIDS: Theories and Methods of Behavioral Interventions (Vol. 10: Aids Prevention and Mental Health). New York, Plenum, 1994, pp. 141-174.
8.
8. Murray DM: Design and Analysis of Group-Randomized Trials. New York, Oxford University Press, 1998.
9.
9. Bandura A: Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice Hall, 1986.
10.
10. Bandura A: Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control. New York, Freeman, 1997.
11.
11. Bandura A: A social cognitive approach to the exercise of control over AIDS infection, in DiClemente RJ (ed.): Adolescents and AIDS: A Generation in Jeopardy. Newbury Park, CA, Sage, 1992, pp. 89-116.
12.
12. Jessor R: Problem behaviorand developmental transition in adolescence. J Sch Health52(5): 295-300, 1982.
13.
13. Resnicow K, Ross-Gaddy D, Vaughan RD: Structure of problem and positive behaviors in African American youths. J Consult Clin Psychol63(4): 594-603, 1995.
14.
14. Jessor R, Van Den Bos J, Vanderryn J, Costa FM, Turbin MS: Protective factors in adolescent problem behavior: Moderator effects and developmental change, in Marlatt GA, VandenBos GR (eds.): Addictive Behaviors: Readings on Etiology, Prevention, and Treatment. Washington, DC, American Psychological Association, 1997, pp. 239-264.
15.
15. Weissberg RP, Caplan M, Harwood RL: Promoting competent young people in competence enhancing environments: A systems-based perspective on primary prevention. J Consult Clin Psychol59(6): 830-841, 1991.
16.
16. Akinyela M: BlackFamilies, Cultural Democracy and Self-Determination: An African Centered Pedagogy. Atlanta, GA, Emory University, Graduate Institute of the Liberal Arts, 1996.
17.
17. Freire P: Pedagogy of the Oppressed. New York, NY, Herder and Herder, 1970.
18.
18. Armsden GC, Greenberg MT: The Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment: Individual differences and their relationship to psychological well-being in adolescence. J Youth Adolesc16(5): 427-454, 1987.
19.
19. Barnes H, Olson DH: Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale. St. Paul, University of Minnesota, Family Social Science, 1982.
20.
20. Piers E, Harris D: The Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale. Los Angeles, Western Psychological Services, 1969.
21.
21. Seidman E, Allen L, Aber JL, Mitchell C, et al.: Development and validation of adolescent-per ceived microsystem scales: Social support, daily hassles, and involvement. Am J Community Psychol23(3): 355-388, 1995.
22.
22. Heimberg LK: Development and Construct Validation of an Inventory for the Measurement of Future Time Perspective. Master’s thesis, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 1961.
23.
23. Heimberg LK: The measurement of future time perspective. Dissertation Abstracts24:1686-1687, 1963.
24.
24. Lamborn SD, Mounts NS, Steinberg L, Dornbusch SM: Patterns of competence and adjustment among adolescents from authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent, and neglectful families. Child Dev62(5): 1049-1065, 1991.
25.
25. SAS Institute: SAS/STAT Software: Changes and Enhancements Through Release 6.12. Cary, NC, SAS Institute, 1997.
26.
26. Kleinbaum DG, Kupper LL, Muller KE, Nizam A: Applied Regression Analysis and Other Multivariable Methods (3rd ed.). Pacific Grove, CA, Brooks/Cole, 1998.
27.
27. Murray DM, Wolfinger RD: Analysis issues in the evaluation of community trials: Progress toward solutions in SAS/STAT MIXED. J Community Psychol22 (Special Issue):140-154, 1994.
28.
28. SAS Institute: SAS Procedures Guide, Release 6.03 Edition. Cary, NC, SAS Institute, 1988.
29.
29. Littell RC, Milliken GA, Stroup WW, Wolfinger RD: SAS System for Mixed Models. Cary, NC, SAS Institute, 1996.
30.
30. Lehr S, DiIorio C, Dudley WN, Lipana J: The relationship between parent-adolescent communication and safer sex behaviors in college students. J Fam Nurs6(2): 180-196, 2000.
31.
31. Forehand R, Neighbors B, Wierson M: The transition of adolescence: The role of gender and stress in problem behavior and competence. J Child Psychol Psychiatry32(6): 929-937, 1991.
32.
32. Hastings T, Anderson SJ, Hemphill P: Comparisons of daily stress, coping, problem behavior, and cognitive distortions in adolescent sexual offenders and conduct-disordered youth. Sex Abuse9(1): 29-42, 1997.
33.
33. Rotheram-Borus MJ, Rosario M, Van Rossem R, Reid H, et al. Prevalence, course, and predictors of multiple problem behaviors among gay and bisexual male adolescents. Dev Psychol31(1): 75-85, 1995.
34.
34. Miller BC, Bingham CR: Family configuration in relation to the sexual behavior of female adolescents. J Marriage Fam51:499-506, 1989.
35.
35. Young EW, Jensen LC, Olsen JA, Cundick BP: The effects of family structure on sexual behavior of adolescents. Adolescence26:997-986, 1991.
