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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Christine J. De Rosa, PhD¹, Emily Q. Chung, MPH, CHES¹, Peter R. Kerndt, MD, MPH¹, Deborah H. Kim, MPH¹, Esteban Martinez¹, Ric Loya², Sharon M. Hudson, PhD¹, Kathleen A. Ethier, PhD³, and Harold D. Sohn¹. (1) Health Research Association, 1111 N. Las Palmas Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, 323-957-4143, echung@hra-paramount.org, (2) Health Education Programs, Los Angeles Unified School District, 355 South Grand Ave., KPMG Building, 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071, (3) Behavioral Interventions & Research Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nat'l Center for HIV, STD & TB Prevention, Div. STD Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, MS E-44, Atlanta, GA 30333

Purpose: Immigrant status may influence adolescent sexual behavior, possibly through parenting and other factors. This analysis examines immigrant generation in relation to sexual behavior, attitudes, and parenting among Latino and Asian adolescents.

Methods: Data are from middle and high school students (N=10,487) in a large, urban, Southern California school district. Randomly selected classrooms completed an in-class survey including demographics, students' and parents' birth country, sexual intentions and behavior, and parental monitoring, communication, and relationship satisfaction.

Results: Most (83%) were Latino (n=7706), Asian (n=844), or both (n=63). Relative to Latinos, more Asians reported being first generation (youth and parents foreign-born: 39% vs. 23%), and fewer second generation (youth U.S. born, one or both parents foreign-born: 55% vs. 72%). For both, intentional sexual delay was lowest among third generation immigrants (range 2.73 – 3.28 on a 5-point low to high scale). Within ethnicities, first and third generation Latinos and Asians respectively reported the highest intention to “have sex now if they had someone to do it with,” (2.72 and 2.67). First and second generation immigrants in both groups less frequently knew how parents felt about them having sex, or using birth control or condoms (range 41 - 61%). First generation Latinos more frequently reported ever having sex (41% vs. 28% of second and 33% of third); no differences among Asians (range 20-28%).

Conclusions: Ethnicity and immigration correlate with adolescent sexual intentions and behavior in complex ways. Understanding generational and ethnic differences in immigrant families can help tailor interventions.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the relationship between generation of immigration and adolescent sexual behaviors and intentions
• Understand the implications of recency of immigration on interventions to prevent teen pregnancy and STDs among Latino and Asian youth

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Sexual Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No