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Longitudinal Effects of Perceived Maternal Approval on Sexual Behaviors of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Young Adults

  • Empirical Research
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Abstract

Data were obtained from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to examine the longitudinal association between Asian and Pacific Islander (API) adolescents’ perceptions of maternal approval of their sexual activity and contraception use, and four sexual outcomes during young adulthood. The study includes a nationally representative sample of 1,195 API adolescents. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the associations between predictors (Wave I) and outcomes (Wave III), controlling for covariates. API adolescents who perceived that their mothers approved of their sexual activities were more likely to have engaged in sex before age 15, contracted HIV/Sexually Transmitted Diseases, had multiple sex partners, and paid money for sex during young adulthood. Findings highlight the need for parent–adolescent communication and parental involvement in preventing negative sexual health outcomes among API adolescents transitioning to young adulthood.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by a Dean’s Award from the Boston University School of Social Work. This research uses data from Add Health, designed by J. Richard Udry, Peter S. Bearman, and Kathleen Mullan Harris, and funded by grant P01-HD31921 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, with cooperative funding from 17 other agencies. Special acknowledgement is due to Ronald R. Rindfuss and Barbara Entwisle for assistance in the original design. To obtain data files from Add Health, go to http://www.cpc.unc.edu/addhealth/contract.html or contact Add Health, Carolina Population Center, 123 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516-2524.

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  1. Boston University School of Social Work, 264 Bay State Road, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Hyeouk Hahm, Jieha Lee, Lisa Zerden, Maryann Amodeo & Chris Adkins

  2. Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Al Ozonoff

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  1. Hyeouk Hahm
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  2. Jieha Lee
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Correspondence to Hyeouk Hahm.

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Hahm, H., Lee, J., Zerden, L. et al. Longitudinal Effects of Perceived Maternal Approval on Sexual Behaviors of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Young Adults. J Youth Adolescence 37, 74–84 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-007-9234-y

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