Multidimensional Profiles of Adolescent Social−Ecological Risk and Protective Factors and Young Adult Sexual Behavior

Research has demonstrated that social–ecological risk and protective factors at multiple levels are associated with sexual behavior in adolescence. However, relatively little is known about how different patterns of these factors may work together in combination to influence sexual risk. In this study, we use nationally representative data from the U.S. National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to (a) uncover latent classes of adolescent social–ecological risk and protective factors, (b) examine how membership in these classes differs by demographic characteristics, and (c) examine how these classes are associated with concurrent adolescent and later young adult sexual behavior. We selected a model with seven latent classes: protected, no romantic relationship (25%), permissive peer norms (16%), poverty/single-parent home (16%), peer disconnection (16%), protected, in romantic relationship (10%), multidimensional risks (9%), and family and community disconnection (8%). In general, participants in the permissive peer norms and multidimensional risks classes were most likely to engage in sexual risk behaviors; and those in the protected, no romantic relationship, and peer disconnection classes were least likely. Findings suggest a combined impact of multiple risk factors on both adolescent and young adult sexual behaviors as well as the unique role of peer risk.