Parental-related youth assets and sexual activity: Differences according to race/ethnicity

Purpose: Research has shown that the role of parental influence on adolescent's sexual behavior is important. This study examined the relationship between parental-related youth assets and youth sexual activity and how this relationship differed by race/ethnicity. Method: The study sample consisted of 978 (aged 12-17) youth (Mean age=14.4 ±1.6 years; 53% Female; 43% White; 31% Hispanic; 26% Black) and their parents living in a Midwest city. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted for three major ethnic groups (White, Black and Hispanic) controlling for youth age and gender, family structure, and parental education and income. Four parental- related youth assets, Family Communication (FC), Relationship with Mother (RM), Relationship with Father (RF), and Parental Monitoring (PM) were the independent variables and “never had sexual intercourse” was the dependent variable. Results: Thirty -two percent of Black, 19% of White, and 20 % of Hispanic youth reported having had sexually intercourse. For Whites, youth with the FC, RM and PM assets were 2.64, 2.15 and 5.27 times respectively more likely to be abstinent than those without each of these assets. For Hispanics, youth with the PM asset were 5.57 times more likely to be abstinent than those without this asset. Within the Black subgroup, youth with the RM, RF and PM assets were 2.94, 2.14 and 3.66 times respectively more likely to be abstinent than those without each of these assets. Parental youth assets, especially parental monitoring, can be important in the decision to delay sexual intercourse. Moreover, these relationships may vary by race/ethnicity.