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Low school engagement and sexual behaviors among African American youth: Examining the influences of gender, peer norms, and gang involvement

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  • Voisin, Dexter R.
  • Neilands, Torsten B.

Abstract

This research examined whether negative peer influences (i.e., norms favoring risky sex and drug use and gang involvement) mediated the relationship between school engagement (i.e., grade point averages [GPAs] obtained from school records and student-teacher connectedness) and sexual behaviors (i.e., sexual début, sex without condoms, group sex, and sex while using drugs) among African American high school adolescents, and whether these relationships varied by gender. Five hundred sixty-three high school adolescents (ages 13 to 19) completed self-administered questionnaires that assessed school engagement markers, peer influences, sexual début, and risky sex. Major findings for boys indicate that GPA was negatively associated with both sexual début and risky sex. Additionally, the relationship between student-teacher connectedness and risky sex was mediated by gang involvement. For girls, higher GPAs were associated with fewer norms favoring risky sex and drug use and such norms were associated with sexual début. Moreover, the relationships between GPA, sexual début and risky sex was mediated by risky peer norms. Intervention programs to delay sexual début and reduce risky sex among youths should attend to the gendered ways through which such behaviors occur.

Suggested Citation

  • Voisin, Dexter R. & Neilands, Torsten B., 2010. "Low school engagement and sexual behaviors among African American youth: Examining the influences of gender, peer norms, and gang involvement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 51-57, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:32:y:2010:i:1:p:51-57
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    Cited by:

    1. Hande Inanc & Alicia Meckstroth & Betsy Keating & Katie Adamek & Heather Zaveri & So O’Neil & Kim McDonald & Lindsay Ochoa, "undated". "Factors Influencing Youth Sexual Activity: Conceptual Models for Sexual Risk Avoidance and Cessation," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 50fc4ce6f652418495bb2ba7f, Mathematica Policy Research.
    2. Biswas, Bipasha & Vaughn, Michael G., 2011. "Really troubled girls: Gender differences in risky sexual behavior and its correlates in a sample of juvenile offenders," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2386-2391.
    3. Katie Adamek & Alicia Meckstroth & Hande Inanc & Lindsay Ochoa & So O'Neil & Kim McDonald & Heather Zaveri, "undated". "Conceptual Models to Depict the Factors that Influence the Avoidance and Cessation of Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Youth," Mathematica Policy Research Reports bbc3741c9fbe4963b6e053933, Mathematica Policy Research.
    4. Berlin, Marie & Vinnerljung, Bo & Hjern, Anders, 2011. "School performance in primary school and psychosocial problems in young adulthood among care leavers from long term foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(12), pages 2489-2497.

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