Factors that predict sexual behaviors among young Mexican American adolescents: An exploratory study

This research used multiple regression to predict the absence of sexual act ivity among young Mexican American adolescents. The regression model includ ed six predictor variables: child's religiosity, child's educational goals, child's educational grades, child's perception of parent-child communicati on, child's self-esteem, and child's perception of the congruency of parent -child sexual values. The sample consisted of 413 Mexican American students who were II to 14 years old; attended either the sixth, seventh or eighth grades; and resided in south Texas (Hidalgo County). The best predictors of absence of sexual activity were child's religiosity, child's educational g oals, and child's perception of the congruency of parent-child sexual value s. Child's perception of the congruency of parent-child sexual values accou nted for more of the variance than any of the other statistically significa nt predictor variables. This suggests that increasing congruity between par ent-child sexual ideas and values Is the best preventive measure to delay s exual activity among Mexican American teenagers.