Processes underlying Mexican adolescents’ sexual behaviors and intentions: Examining the roles of familial cultural values and parental monitoring.

Abstract

Objectives: The study examined the associations between familial cultural values of familismo (familism) and respeto (respect), parental monitoring, and Mexican adolescents’ sexual behaviors. Method: The sample consisted of 1,024 Mexican adolescents (12–18 years) from two urban schools in Puebla, Mexico. Results: Findings indicated that respeto was associated with paternal and maternal monitoring, sexual responsibility, sexual intention, and sexual behavior. Further, through indirect effects, among males, respeto was associated with paternal monitoring, which was, in turn, associated with sexual intentions. Conclusions: Findings highlight the relevance of caregivers and cultural values in Mexican adolescents’ sexual health.