HIV Risk Behavior, Family and Diverse Latino Youths: Findings From the
National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health)
-
Vincent Guilamo-Ramos
-
McVickar Hall
-
Columbia University
-
622 West 113th Street
-
New York NY 10025
-
212-854-5668
-
FAX: 212-854-2975
-
rg650@columbia.edu
Latino Youths constitute one of the most vulnerable groups in the nation
for the transmission of HIV, experiencing disproportionately high rates
of HIV infection. The broad objective of this study was to examine the
relationship between differing levels of acculturation and the quality
of the parent-adolescent relationship as predictors of HIV risk behavior
in Latino youth. The specific aims of the study were (1) to describe the
relationship between acculturation and the development of HIV risk behavior
in Latino youth, (2) to describe the possible moderating effects of the
parent adolescent relationship as a protective or risk factor for engaging
in HIV risk behavior, and (3) to identify if there are subgroup differences
among the predictor and outcome variables in a sample of diverse Latino
youth. Data were analyzed from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent
Health; a school based study with youths from grades 7-12. A Latino sub
sample of 2,387 Latino youth (Mexican, Puerto Rican and Cuban) were studied
in the context of a prospective design. The Latino youth in grades 7-11
were interviewed twice, one year apart. Statistical analysis was conducted
using a structural equation limited information framework to predict sexual
risk behavior, drug use, and alcohol use at Wave II from data collected
one year previously at Wave I. Findings highlight the importance of the
Latino family in preventing high risk behavior. Additionally, findings
suggest that acculturative influences on risk behavior are robust and remain
unqualified by a number of hypothesized familial moderator variables.