TY - JOUR
T1 - Problem Solving Reduces Sexual Risk Associated with Sensation Seeking, Substance Use, and Depressive Symptoms Among African-American Adolescents
AU - Dunne, Eugene M.
AU - Norris, Alyssa L.
AU - Romer, Daniel
AU - DiClemente, Ralph J.
AU - Vanable, Peter A.
AU - Valois, Robert F.
AU - Brown, Larry K.
AU - Carey, Michael P.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2019/3/4
Y1 - 2019/3/4
N2 - African-American adolescents experience higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) compared to same-age Caucasian peers. Substance use, sensation seeking, and depression have all been linked to risky sexual practices. Theory suggests that problem-solving skills may help to buffer against these risk factors. To test this hypothesis, we used data from African-American adolescents (N = 1,018; M age = 16.7, SD = 1.1; 58% female) who participated in a prevention trial. Nearly half of the sample (47%) reported lifetime marijuana use, while 13% reported drug use prior to most recent sexual encounter. Sexual sensation seeking was directly associated with drug use prior to sex (β = 1.13, b = 0.13, SE = 0.02, p <.001) and lower problem-solving skills (β = –0.08, b = –0.06, SE = 0.02, p =.01). Problem-solving skills were associated with drug use prior to sex (β = 0.92, b = −0.08, SE = 0.03, p =.004), such that those with greater problem-solving skills were less likely to report drug use prior to most recent sex. Finally, problem-solving skills mediated the association between sexual sensation seeking and drug use prior to sex, although the effect was small (β = 0.01, 95% CI:.001,.01). Problem-solving skills can have a protective influence on risky behavior for adolescents. Future research might examine the utility of strengthening problem-solving skills in order to reduce STI/HIV risk among African-American adolescents.
AB - African-American adolescents experience higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) compared to same-age Caucasian peers. Substance use, sensation seeking, and depression have all been linked to risky sexual practices. Theory suggests that problem-solving skills may help to buffer against these risk factors. To test this hypothesis, we used data from African-American adolescents (N = 1,018; M age = 16.7, SD = 1.1; 58% female) who participated in a prevention trial. Nearly half of the sample (47%) reported lifetime marijuana use, while 13% reported drug use prior to most recent sexual encounter. Sexual sensation seeking was directly associated with drug use prior to sex (β = 1.13, b = 0.13, SE = 0.02, p <.001) and lower problem-solving skills (β = –0.08, b = –0.06, SE = 0.02, p =.01). Problem-solving skills were associated with drug use prior to sex (β = 0.92, b = −0.08, SE = 0.03, p =.004), such that those with greater problem-solving skills were less likely to report drug use prior to most recent sex. Finally, problem-solving skills mediated the association between sexual sensation seeking and drug use prior to sex, although the effect was small (β = 0.01, 95% CI:.001,.01). Problem-solving skills can have a protective influence on risky behavior for adolescents. Future research might examine the utility of strengthening problem-solving skills in order to reduce STI/HIV risk among African-American adolescents.
KW - adolescents
KW - drug use
KW - problem solving
KW - sexual sensation seeking
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U2 - 10.1080/1067828X.2019.1610679
DO - 10.1080/1067828X.2019.1610679
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85065770307
SN - 1067-828X
VL - 28
SP - 113
EP - 118
JO - Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse
JF - Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse
IS - 2
ER -