THE SOCIAL-CONTEXT FOR RISKY SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR AMONG ADOLESCENTS

This study supports a model of adolescents' risky sexual behavior in w hich this behavior is seen as a product of the same peer and family fa ctors which influence a wide range of problem behaviors. The Patterson et al. (1992) model of peer and parental factors associated with adol escents' sexual risk-taking behavior was tested on three independent s amples of adolescents, ages 14 through 18. Adolescents whose peers wer e reported to engage in diverse problem behaviors were more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior Poor parental monitoring and parent-ch ild coercive interactions were associated having deviant peers, and po or parental monitoring also had a direct relationship to risky sexual behavior. Family involvement was associated with fewer parent-child co ercive interactions. Less availability of parental figures in the fami ly was directly associated with risky sexual behavior and was also ass ociated with poorer parental monitoring.