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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Sara Vesely, PhD¹, Trisha Mueller, MPH², Roy Oman, PhD¹, Cheryl Aspy, PhD¹, and Eleni Tolma, PhD¹. (1) College of Public Health, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, 900 NE 10th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, (405)271-2017, Sara-Vesely@ouhsc.edu, (2) NCCDPHP, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS K-22, Atlanta, GA 30341

Sexual risk behavior poses a significant threat to the health of youth and previous research has shown that youth assets are associated with sexual activity. The effect of gender on the asset/risk behavior relationship is also of interest. The study sample consisted of youth (Mean age= 14.9±1.8 years; 52% female; 44% white, 23% Hispanic, 23% black, 10% other) and their parents (N=2335 youth/parent pairs) living in two Midwest cities. Thirty percent of the youth reported they had participated in sexual intercourse. Individual logistic regression analyses were conducted by gender, controlling for demographic variables, with 9 youth assets as the independent variables and ²never had sexual intercourse² as the dependent variable. Two assets (Use of Time (Groups/Sports), Good Health Practices) that were not significant in the overall sample were each significantly related to never having had sexual intercourse (p<.05) for females but not for males. Three other assets were significantly related to never having had sexual intercourse for both males and females but only for some subgroups. For example, Family Communication was significantly related to never having had sexual intercourse in all females but only for 12-14 year old males. The other three assets (Non-Parental Adult Role Models, Aspirations for the Future, Responsible Choices)were significantly associated with never having had sexual intercourse for both males and females. The results support research suggesting that the asset/sexual intercourse relationship may vary by gender. Gender specific interventions focusing on certain assets may be appropriate for reducing teen sexual behavior.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify specific youth assets associated with a reduction in youth sexual intercourse.
• Identify gender differences in the asset/sexual intercourse relationship.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Sexual Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered