Determinants of African American Adolescents Intentions to Have Sex: Knowledge of Risky Sexual Behaviors and Adulthood Preparation Skills

Background/Purpose: According to the CDC, the majority (81.9%) of African American (AA) adolescents receive AIDS/HIV education in schools; yet, +60% still reported having sexual intercourse (CDC, 2014). Research demonstrates adolescents may not abstain from sexual activities despite receiving interventions and increasing their HIV-related knowledge (Minnick & Shandler, 2011). In contrast, the acquisition of skills for adulthood (e.g. parent-child communication, healthy life skills and healthy relationship) can help adolescents abstain from risky behaviors and develop competencies, confidence, and values as they emerge into adulthood (Family and Youth Services Bureau, 2012). Kogan and colleagues (2013) observed adolescents who value future accomplishments, curtail anti-social behaviors, and engage in academic pursuits are less likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors (RSB). Therefore, this study’s purpose is to examine the combined influences of adulthood preparation skills and HIV-related knowledge on AA teens’ intentions to have sex. 

Methods:Baseline data from a community-based sample of 371 AA adolescent (44 % female) participants in a quasi-experimental, longitudinal project are used for this analysis. Independent measures: (1) Adolescents’ Adulthood Preparation (AAP), measured by 8 questions on a 4-point Likert scale (α= 0.714) regarding adolescents’ self-assessed abilities to deal with school/peer pressure, other stressors and parent/guardian communication. Higher scores are associated with positive abilities. (2) The B.A.R.T. Student Knowledge Survey (BSKS, α=0.847) is a 20-item survey designed to measure knowledge of STI transmission, including HIV. The DV is adolescents’ self-reported intention to have sex (IS) within the next 6 months (higher scores imply greater intention to have sex). Bivariate correlation and multiple regression (MR) analyses were conducted.

Results: Bivariate correlation analyses indicate a significant, positive relationship between IS and BSKS scores (r=0.171, p<0.000). Stepwise MR results indicate BSKS, AAP, age, and gender are all significant predictors for adolescents’ IS (F _(4,361) = 39.187, p<0.000). Gender emerged as the strongest predictor for IS (β=-0.432, t=-9.651, p<0.001), followed by age (β =0.229, t=5.031, p<0.001); meaning males and older AA adolescents have greater intentions for having sex within the next 6 months. BSKS scores had a significant positive effect (β=0.157, t=3.458, p=0.001) on adolescents’ IS. However, AAP scores had a significant negative effect (β=-0.105, t= -2.373, p=0.018) on IS, meaning adolescents with higher AAP scores indicated fewer intentions of have sex within the next 6 months. Taken together, after controlling for age, gender and AAP in the MR, higher baseline scores on BSKS indicated adolescents had greater intentions to engage in sexual intercourse.

Conclusion/Implications: Based on these analyses, it is reasonable to infer that adolescents who have more knowledge (BSKS) may be over-confident in their ability to avoid pregnancy or the transmission of STIs when having sex. However, an encouraging finding is that adolescents who demonstrated positive adulthood preparation abilities are more likely to abstain from sexual intercourse as indicated by no intentions to have sex in the future. These results imply that interventions to delay adolescents’ sexual debut should highly emphasize helping AA adolescents develop adulthood skills through preparatory training rather than limiting interventions to just HIV/STI and pregnancy prevention content.