A youth development approach to profiling sexual abstinence
Oman, R.F.; Vesely, S.K.; Kegler, M.; McLeroy, K.; Aspy, C.B.
American Journal of Health Behavior 27(Suppl 1): S80-S93
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 1087-3244 PMID: 12751649 Document Number: 235396
To use youth and parent demographic factors, youth assets (strengths), and community constructs to develop age-group-specific profiles for youth who abstain from sexual activity. Data were collected using in-person interviews of youth (N = 1253) residing in randomly selected, inner-city neighborhood households. Data were analyzed to create classification trees. Results indicated that assets typically were the most important factors related to abstinence and that the profiles differed for each age group. When sexual abstinence is considered, the influence of youth and parent demographics, youth assets, and community factors appears to vary across adolescent developmental age periods.