Heterosexual risk behaviors among urban young adolescents

Urban 6th graders (n = 294) participate in a survey assessing early heterosexual risk behaviors as part of the Reach for Health Middle Childhood Study. About half the boys (47%) and 20% of girls report having a girlfriend or boyfriend: 42% of boys and 10% of girls report kissing and hugging for a long time. Stepwise regressions model the relationships between heterosexual behaviors and gender background characteristics, and parenting practices and peer influences. In the final model, being male, parental approval of having a girlfriend or a boyfriend, lower parental oversight of activities, having older or mixed-aged peers, and expressing peer norms supporting sexual behaviors are significant risk factors of heterosexual behaviors. Findings indicate the importance of parenting practices and peer influences on early sexual behaviors and inform strategies for helping urban young adolescents delay sexual initiation.