Do Family Structure and Family Income Mediate the Influence of Negative Life Events on Ever Having Sexual Intercourse in Adolescents?

Purpose: Adolescents experiencing negative life events (e.g., moving to a new city, problems in school) are at greater risk of engaging in risk behaviors, but an association with risk of sexual intercourse has not been established. This study examines the association of negative life events on ever having sexual intercourse, and family structure and income as potential mediators.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from 1017 randomly-selected ethnically-diverse parents and their children (mean age = 14.3 years). Fourteen life events were examined and categorized into 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4+ events. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression analyses with ever having sexual intercourse as the outcome were conducted. Demographic variables were controlled for as appropriate. A variable was determined to be a mediator if the odds ratio (OR) estimate changed by 10% or more when it was added to the model.

Results: Life events were significantly associated (p<.05) with family structure, income, and ever having intercourse. As the number of life events increased, the proportion ever having intercourse significantly increased. In the fully adjusted model, the odds of ever had intercourse were 2.78 times higher for youth reporting 1 event and over 6 times (OR = 6.52) higher for those reporting 4+ events compared to those reporting no events. Family structure and income mediated the relationship between life events and sexual intercourse.

Conclusions: Exposure to even one commonly-experienced negative life event is associated with increased risk of ever having intercourse. Family structure and income have an important role in the association.