Multidimensional Profiles of Adolescent Social-Ecological Risk and Protective Factors and Young Adult Sexual Behavior

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Multidimensional Profiles of Adolescent Social-Ecological Risk and Protective Factors and Young Adult Sexual Behavior
Language: English
Authors: Sara A. Vasilenko (ORCID 0000-0002-1773-8947), Qingyang Liu, Caitlin S. Smith, Terese Millet Joseph, Xiaoyan Zhang, Bethany C. Bray
Source: Developmental Psychology. 2025 61(5):825-842.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 18
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (DHHS/NIH)
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)
Contract Number: P01HD31921
R03HD096101
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Adolescents, Young Adults, Sexuality, Risk, Influences, Group Membership, Family Structure, Socioeconomic Status, Religion, Interpersonal Relationship, Peer Relationship, Student School Relationship, Parent Child Relationship
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health
DOI: 10.1037/dev0001888
ISSN: 0012-1649
1939-0599
Abstract: Research has demonstrated that social-ecological risk and protective factors at multiple levels are associated with sexual behavior in adolescence. However, relatively little is known about how different patterns of these factors may work together in combination to influence sexual risk. In this study, we use nationally representative data from the U.S. National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to (a) uncover latent classes of adolescent social-ecological risk and protective factors, (b) examine how membership in these classes differs by demographic characteristics, and (c) examine how these classes are associated with concurrent adolescent and later young adult sexual behavior. We selected a model with seven latent classes: protected, no romantic relationship (25%), permissive peer norms (16%), poverty/single-parent home (16%), peer disconnection (16%), protected, in romantic relationship (10%), multidimensional risks (9%), and family and community disconnection (8%). In general, participants in the permissive peer norms and multidimensional risks classes were most likely to engage in sexual risk behaviors; and those in the protected, no romantic relationship, and peer disconnection classes were least likely. Findings suggest a combined impact of multiple risk factors on both adolescent and young adult sexual behaviors as well as the unique role of peer risk.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1502454
Database: ERIC
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