Ecodevelopmental × Intrapersonal Risk

Abstract

Hispanic adolescents are a rapidly growing population and are highly vulnerable to substance abuse and HIV infection. Many interventions implemented thus far have been "one size fits all" models that deliver the same dosage and sequence of modules to all participants. To more effectively prevent substance use and HIV in Hispanic adolescents, different risk profiles must be considered. This study's purpose is to use intrapersonal and ecodevelopmental risk processes to identify Hispanic adolescent subgroups and to compare substance use rates and sexual behavior by risk subgroup. The results indicate that a larger proportion with high ecodevelopmental risk (irrespective of the intrapersonal risk for substance use) report lifetime and past 90-day cigarette and illicit drug use. In contrast, a larger proportion with high intrapersonal risk for unsafe sex (irrespective of ecodevelopmental risk) report early sex initiation and sexually transmitted disease incidence. Implications for intervention development are discussed in terms of these Hispanic adolescent subgroups. KeywordsHispanic; drugs; sexual behavior; adolescents; ecodevelopmental Hispanics are the largest minority group in the United States, accounting for approximately 14% of the total U.S. population (Ramirez & de la Cruz, 2003). Hispanics are also a young population, with 39% younger than age 19 (Marotta & Garcia, 2003). In addition to their large and growing numbers, Hispanic adolescents are disproportionately affected by substance use and HIV/AIDS (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2004;Johnston, O'Malley, Bachman, & Schulenberg, 2006). Although population-based data indicate that Hispanic adolescents as a group are at elevated risk of substance use (CDC, 2004) and HIV (Johnston et al., 2006), Hispanics are a heterogeneous population that are not all at equivalently increased risk of substance use and/or HIV. To better understand and explain this variation among Hispanics, it is important to classify Hispanics into distinct subgroups (Pantin, Prado, Schwartz, & Sullivan, 2005). Although demographics characteristics such as country of origin and nativity (i.e., United States born vs. foreign born) have been the traditional form of choice for subgrouping Hispanics (and other ethnic groups), some have argued that identifying subgroups using data-driven (i.e., empirical) methods may be more beneficial than subgrouping by demographic characteristics (Dierker, Avenevoli, Goldberg, & Glantz, 2004 EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SUBSTANCE USE AND HIV AMONG HISPANIC ADOLESCENTSHispanic adolescents are at increased risk for substance use (Johnston et al., 2006) and for HIV contraction (CDC, 2004) compared to adolescents of other ethnic groups. Hispanic 8th and 10th graders report more alcohol, cigarette, and illicit drug use (with the exception of amphetamines) than their non-Hispanic White and African American counterparts (Johnston et al., 2006). Similar data indicate that Hispanic adolescents are less likely to use a condom when engaging in sexual in...

The Role of Intrapersonal and Ecodevelopmental Factors in the Lives of Latino Alternative High School Youth

“…They expressed how difficult it is to reject the peer pressure “pushing” them to consume drugs. These findings confirm previous research indicating that many Latino youth residing in inner-city urban areas are exposed to intense peer pressure associated with drug use and abuse (Prado et al, 2009). …”

Relationships between Parent-Adolescent Communication, Acculturation, and Sexual Knowledge on Latino Adolescent Sexual Behavior: A Systematic Review

“…In summary, findings from five studies supported that adolescents' intentions to have sex and condom use are predictors of protected intercourse (Buhi & Goodson, 2007;Koniak-Griffin et al, 2003;Koniak-Griffin & Stein, 2006;Prado et al, 2009;Villarruel et al, 2004). Findings from four studies indicated positive relationships between adolescents' perceptions of normative beliefs or subjective norms about condom use and engagement in intercourse and adolescents' intentions to use condoms (Koniak-Griffin et al, 2003;Koniak-Griffin & Stein, 2006;Villarruel et al, 2004) and adolescents' sexual activity (Buhi & Goodson, 2007).…”

“…The authors also found positive association between adolescents' perceptions of parents' approval of condom use and their intentions to use condoms; and a positive association between adolescent condom use self-efficacy and intentions to use condoms. Prado et al (2009) found that condom use social norms were not significantly associated with attitudes about sex, social norms regarding sex, or sexual intentions. Also condom use intentions were not correlated with sexual intentions.…”

“…Villarruel et al (2004) found that adolescents' favorable attitudes toward abstinence and condom use were significantly associated with adolescents' intentions to use condoms and to abstain from intercourse. Only two studies reported findings specific for Latino adolescents (Prado et al, 2009;Villarruel et al, 2004), and none of the studies compared differences in these relationships among different Latino sub-populations.…”

Associations Between Ethnic Labels and Substance Use Among Hispanic/Latino Adolescents in Los Angeles

“…The extent and quality of their interactions with both their cultures of origin and the U.S. culture, and the cultural identities they adopt personally, may influence their decisions about engaging in health-promoting and health-compromising behaviors (Guzman, Santiago-Rivera, & Hasse, 2005; Marcell, 1994; Umaña-Taylor & Fine, 2001). Indeed, research reveals significant variation in adolescent substance use across national subgroups such as Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, and Salvadoran Americans (Delva et al, 2005; Prado et al, 2009; Vaeth, Caetano, Ramisetty-Mikler, & Rodriguez, 2009) and among first-, second-, and third-generation Hispanic Americans (Eitle, Wahl, & Aranda, 2009), as well as associations between substance use and acculturation (Bethel & Schenker, 2005; Castro, Stein, & Bentler, 2009; De La Rosa, 2002; Eitle et al, 2009; Marsiglia, Kulis, Hussaini, Nieri, & Becerra, 2010; Unger et al, 2000; Zamboanga, Schwartz, Jarvis, & Van Tyne, 2009). …”