EARLY INITIATION OF SEX AND ITS LACK OF ASSOCIATION WITH RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG ADOLESCENT AFRICAN-AMERICANS

Objective. High rates of adolescent homicide, pregnancy, substance abu se, and sexually transmitted diseases underscore the importance of int erventions designed to reduce problem behaviors. However, the definiti on of ''problem'' behavior and the association with other activities m ay change between youth cultures. Therefore, greater attention to defi ning the ''problem'' behaviors to be targeted will permit more effecti ve utilization of primary vs secondary intervention strategies and ide ntification of high-risk individuals. Design. Two studies of African-A merican adolescents regarding sexual intercourse, school truancy, subs tance abuse, and drug trafficking are presented. The first study invol ved 57 youths (10 to 14 years of age) from a pediatric primary health center and gathered data through pile-sorting. The second study of 300 youths (9 to 15 years of age) from six public housing sites used a qu estionnaire administered by a 'talking'' computer. Both studies assess ed different self-reported behaviors, feelings about engaging in speci fic behaviors, and perceptions of friends' behaviors. Results. While 4 0% of subjects reported having had sex, substantially smaller proporti ons reported school truancy (14%), illicit drug use (2% to 6%), or dru g trafficking (6%). Analyses of reported behaviors, feelings, and perc eived peer norms revealed that sex was consistently depicted as formin g a different domain from other problem behaviors. Conclusions. Interv entions that rely on primary prevention strategies for sexual intercou rse and that identify sexually active youths as at risk for problem be haviors may not be appropriate for African-American adolescents growin g up in resource-depleted urban areas.