Abstract
Adolescent sexual risk-taking is common and often occurs under the influence of alcohol. Although alcohol use emerges in early
adolescence, there is little empirical research examining whether growth in alcohol use during this developmental period predicts
later risky sexual behavior. Such information could provide a critical opportunity for the prevention of sexually transmitted
infections and unwanted teenage pregnancies. The current study examined alcohol use as a developmental mediator of the relationship
between conduct problems, impulsivity, poverty, race and menarche assessed at age 11, and sexual risk-taking among girls at
age 16. The sample comprised 499 participants of the Pittsburgh Girls Study (57.7% African American and 42.3% European American)
interviewed annually for 6 years between age 11 and 16. The results of the conditioned latent growth curve model showed that
the rate of increase in alcohol use, and African American race, predicted higher rates of sexual risk-taking at age 16. However,
European American race predicted the intercept and slope of alcohol use. When mediation was tested, the results showed that
age 12 use and an increase in propensity for alcohol use between 12 and 15 explained the relationship between European American
race and later risky sex, but this was not the case for African American girls. Use of alcohol at age 12 also mediated the
association between early menarche and subsequent sexual risk-taking. The implications of the findings for sexual risk prevention
are discussed.
adolescence, there is little empirical research examining whether growth in alcohol use during this developmental period predicts
later risky sexual behavior. Such information could provide a critical opportunity for the prevention of sexually transmitted
infections and unwanted teenage pregnancies. The current study examined alcohol use as a developmental mediator of the relationship
between conduct problems, impulsivity, poverty, race and menarche assessed at age 11, and sexual risk-taking among girls at
age 16. The sample comprised 499 participants of the Pittsburgh Girls Study (57.7% African American and 42.3% European American)
interviewed annually for 6 years between age 11 and 16. The results of the conditioned latent growth curve model showed that
the rate of increase in alcohol use, and African American race, predicted higher rates of sexual risk-taking at age 16. However,
European American race predicted the intercept and slope of alcohol use. When mediation was tested, the results showed that
age 12 use and an increase in propensity for alcohol use between 12 and 15 explained the relationship between European American
race and later risky sex, but this was not the case for African American girls. Use of alcohol at age 12 also mediated the
association between early menarche and subsequent sexual risk-taking. The implications of the findings for sexual risk prevention
are discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s11121-011-0260-3
- Authors
- Alison Hipwell, Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3811 O’Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Stephanie Stepp, Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3811 O’Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Tammy Chung, Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3811 O’Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Vanessa Durand, Department of School Psychology, Duquesne University, Canevin Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
- Kate Keenan, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Journal Prevention Science
- Online ISSN 1573-6695
- Print ISSN 1389-4986