Room 524-A | Sexuality across the Lifecycle Monday, July 11, 2005 Time: 2:30 PM-4:30 PM |
Sexual behavior among Puertorican adolescents from stratified community and mental health samples.
Pando, Jose*,1, Canino, Glorissa, Ramirez, Rafael, 1 University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, PR, Puerto Rico
ABSTRACT- Prevalence, consequences and correlates of adolescent sexual relations (ASR), including intercourse, have been of scientific interest during decades worldwide. In 2002, Puerto Rico showed the highest adolescent pregnancy rate (19.2%) within the United States. Previous studies also reported early initiation in ASR. Scarce data gathered on this subject in Puerto Rico reveals the need for further investigation. The current study is aimed to describe ASR patterns from a community and mental health samples. This study presents data from a stratified sample of Puerto Rican male and female 11-18 years old adolescents focusing its results in youngsters engaged in ASR. Uniqueness of this study stems from data from two representative samples of adolescents, one from the general community (N=994), and another of adolescents receiving mental health services within a specific period (N=550). Methodology included DISC IV and Non DISC Sexual Behavior individual interviews for both samples. Logistic regression models and bivariate odd ratios were used for statistical analysis. Results from community and mental health samples showed that the latter had consistently higher rates of ASR and lifetime reports of pregnancy, as well as lower age onset of ASR for females. In both samples no gender difference in prevalence of ASR was observed. Results also showed that older adolescents of the community sample meeting psychiatric diagnosis criteria and with lower parental attachment were more likely to engage in ASR; whereas in the mental health sample, adolescents with lower parental monitoring and parental involvement reported significantly more ASR. Further analyses revealed that, after adjustment for age and sex, disruptive or depressive disorders were associated with a higher probability of ASR in community sample. Otherwise, mental health sample showed significant association of ASR with depressive disorder. Whether mental disorder or lower parental-child relationships preceded or were consequence of ASR could not be determined due to the cross-sectional nature of the sample. In conclusion, adolescents with mental disorders initiate and engage in ASR earlier and more frequently; regardless of gender, older adolescents are more likely to engage in ASR; and parent-child relationship emerged as a highly relevant predictor of adolescent sexual behavior.
Key words: ASR, onset age, gender difference, mental disorders, parent-child relations