AN ECOLOGICAL, RISK-FACTOR EXAMINATION OF ADOLESCENTS SEXUAL-ACTIVITYIN 3 ETHNIC-GROUPS

This study examines the extent to which the ecological, risk-factor ap proach Sor studying sexual activity in samples of mostly European Amer icans is useful for explaining adolescent sexual activity in three eth nic groups. We hypothesized that as exposure to risk factors increased so would the likelihood of sexual activity in all the ethnic groups. Ethnic and gender differences in the relationship between risk factors and sexual activity were also examined, We found significant risk fac tors at all three levels of the social ecology. There was little suppo rt for the notion that risk factors predicting sexual activity differ among the ethnic groups, although we found a few gender differences. T he results of these analyses highlight similarities among the three et hnic groups.