Romantic Relationships among Immigrant Adolescents

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 2010

Sexual partner characteristics increase risk for adverse reproductive health outcomes. Evidence is limited regarding whether choice of sexual partners among Latino adolescents changes with U.S. acculturation/adaptation. We used generalized estimating equations to assess the associations between immigrant generation (recent immigrant, 1.5 [immigrated prior to adolescence], 2nd and 3rd) and sexual partner risk in a prospective cohort study of 411 Latino adolescents aged 14-19. We examined three measures of partner risk and mediating effects of family influence (familism and parental monitoring). The odds of reporting a partner with frequent substance use increased with increasing immigrant generation (odds ratios (OR) [reference = recent immigrants]: 2.3, 3.4, and 5.6) as did having a partner who was in a gang/incarcerated (OR [reference = recent immigrants]: 2.4, 3.6, and 5.7). Though the odds of having high-risk partners decreased with higher parental monitoring, neither family influence measure mediated these relationships. Findings underscore the need for a prevention focus on partner choice with attention to increased risk with increasing U.S. generation.

AIDS and Behavior, 2012

Latino youth are at high risk for acquiring HIV during adolescence. The present study documented the nature of adolescent romantic relationships among 702 Latino eighth grade students and their mothers in the Bronx, NY. The study examined adolescent romantic relationships, the association between participation in such relationships and intentions to engage in sexual risk behavior, and maternal influences on adolescent's involvement in intimate behaviors in romantic relationships. Almost 50% of youth had been in a romantic relationship, which typically lasted 3-3.5 months. Mothers tended to approve of intimate behaviors and sexual activity in romantic relationships more so for males than females. Latino youth tended to underestimate maternal disapproval of a range of intimate behaviors, and the correlations between perceived and actual maternal approval were generally low in magnitude. Finally, maternal orientations towards their adolescent engaging in romantic relationships were associated with their child's intentions to have sexual intercourse in the future.

Journal of Research on Adolescence, 2014

This study examined prospective associations between the family context and adolescents' romantic relationships as moderated by adolescents' gender and culture among Mexican American families (N = 189). Adolescents at Time 1 (early adolescence) were on average 12.29 years of age (SD = .50) and 54% female. Mothers and fathers reported on family structure and dynamics during early adolescence, and youth reported on their romantic relationship involvement and quality during middle and late adolescence. Results from path analyses indicated that family structure and dynamics (supportive parenting, consistent discipline, parent-adolescent, and interparental conflict) were associated with adolescents' romantic involvement and quality, with differences by adolescents' gender and culture. Findings highlight Mexican American family contexts that contribute uniquely to adolescents' romantic relationships. Romantic relationships become increasingly important across adolescence as they provide support for youth development and a foundation for later intimate relationships (Collins, Welsch & Furman, 2009). There is evidence that adolescent experiences within the family context are linked to the timing (Roisman, Booth-LaForce, Cauffman, & Spieker, 2009) and quality (Crockett & Randall, 2006) of romantic relationships. Despite calls for greater attention to cultural diversity (Bryant, 2006), research on romantic relationships is lacking for adolescents of Mexican origin (hereafter identified as Mexican American). A focus on Mexican Americans is warranted as this population is the largest U.S. ethnic subgroup (U.S. Census Bureau, 2013a) and one that is relatively young (U.S. Census Bureau, 2013b). The limited research with Mexican Americans suggests cultural factors (Azmitia & Brown, 2002) may intersect with family processes to influence romantic relationships in ways that may differ from other ethnic groups.

The Journal of Primary Prevention, 2009

The present study develops and evaluates a theoretical framework of mediators of the relationship between acculturation and adolescent sexual behavior. Four hundred Latino mother-adolescent dyads from the Bronx, New York were interviewed. The study explored the relationship between intentions to have sexual intercourse and explanatory variables such as adolescent romantic relationship status and partner preferences, maternal approval of dating, adolescent perceptions of maternal approval of dating, and maternal and adolescent levels of familismo and acculturation. Findings revealed complex dynamics between acculturation and adolescent sexual behavior. Protective and risk-inducing associations were observed, with important gender differences operating for boys and girls. Implications for the development of applied prevention programs are discussed.

Population Research and Policy Review, 2010

Drug and Alcohol …, 2012

Please cite this article in press as: Schwartz, S.J., et al., Substance use and sexual behavior among recent Hispanic immigrant adolescents: Effects of parent-adolescent differential acculturation and communication. Drug Alcohol Depend. (2012), http://dx.

Prevention Science, 2014

This study evaluated the immigrant paradox by 16 ascertaining the effects of multiple components of accultur-17 ation on substance use and sexual behavior among recently 18 immigrated Hispanic adolescents primarily from Mexico (35 %) 19 and Cuba (31 %). A sample of 302 adolescents (53 % boys; 20 mean age 14.51 years) from Miami (n=152) and Los Angeles 21 (n=150) provided data on Hispanic and US cultural practices, 22 values, and identifications at baseline and provided reports of 23 cigarette use, alcohol use, sexual activity, and unprotected sex 24 approximately 1 year later. Results indicated strong gender 25 differences, with the majority of significant findings emerging 26 for boys. Supporting the immigrant paradox (i.e., that becoming 27 oriented toward US culture is predictive of increased health 28 risks), individualist values predicted greater numbers of oral 29 sex partners and unprotected sex occasions for boys. However, 30 contrary to the immigrant paradox, for boys, both US practices 31 and US identification predicted less heavy drinking, fewer oral 32 and vaginal/anal sex partners, and less unprotected vaginal/anal 33 sex. Ethnic identity (identification with one's heritage culture) 34 predicted greater numbers of sexual partners but negatively 35 predicted unprotected sex. Results indicate a need for multidi-36 mensional, multi-domain models of acculturation and suggest 37 that more work is needed to determine the most effective ways 38 to culturally inform prevention programs.

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 2007

This paper contributes new evidence on the association between immigrant status and health by describing and attempting to explain patterns of co-occurring sex and drug use behaviors among Asian and Latino adolescents in the United States. Nine patterns of sex and drug use behaviors were identified from a cluster analysis of data from 3,924 Asian and Latino youth (grades 7-12) who participated in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). The relationship between immigrant status and risk cluster membership was evaluated with multinomial logistic regression. Compared to foreign-born youth, U.S. born Asian and Latino adolescents were more likely to engage in sex and drug risk behaviors. Family and residential characteristics associated with immigrant status partly accounted for this finding. The results indicate that among Asian and Latino adolescents, assimilation to U.S. risk behavior norms occurs rapidly and is evident by the second generation.

2006

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (or Add Health), a nationally representative sample of adolescents in 1994-1995, we compare the stability of interracial and intraracial dating relationships among white, black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American adolescents by using Cox Regression Models and Multiple Imputation techniques that correct for missing data problems. We Wnd that adolescents who are involved in interracial relationships are more likely to terminate their relationships than their counterparts involved in intraracial relationships even after we adjust for individual, relationship and social network factors. Without Multiple Imputation techniques for missing data, we Wnd no diVerence in relationship stability between interracial and intraracial couples. We demonstrate that adolescents involved in interracial romance are less likely to reveal their relationships to their families, to the public eye and less likely to meet their partners' parents. These patterns suggest ଝ (K. Joyner).

Hispanic Health Care International, 2013

far in school (Pew Hispanic Center, 2009). Nurses have a key role to play in assessing the strengths and challenges faced by immigrant youth when they access clinical care. Studies of Latina teens show that they are less likely than their peers to use effective contraception and to use it consistently and to face challenges accessing birth control (Anderson, Santelli, & Morrow, 2006; Dailard & Richardson 2005; Sugerman et al., 2000). New immigrants, particularly unauthorized immigrants, may face additional obstacles accessing birth control and services D espite steep declines, California's Latina teen birth rate (45.0 per 1,000 girls aged 15-19 years in 2010) is substantially higher than the state average (29.0), representing nearly three quarters (73%) of all teen births (California Department of Public Health, 2012). About one quarter (26%) of these births are to immigrant Latina youth (Pew Hispanic Center, 2009). When compared to U.S.-born Latinas and non-Latinas, immigrant Latinas are even more likely to be married, live in poverty, earn significantly less, and not to go as