The role of maternal warmth in Mexican adolescent sexuality

• In Event: Poster Session 07
  In Poster Session: PS 07 Topic - Sex, Gender

Abstract

Introduction
Parental warmth is associated with lower levels of sexual activity (Gardner et al., 2012, Henrich et al., 2005), but not consistently among groups including African American and Mexican adolescents (Kapungu et al., 2006; Christopher et al, 1993). Culture-specific variables, such as familism (i.e., a Latino value characterized by loyalty to one’s family; Becker et al., 2014) may play a role in these associations. Thus, we examined whether maternal warmth constructs (i.e., affection, verbal guidance) were associated with Mexican adolescent sexual intentions, and sexual behaviors (i.e., heavy petting, performing oral sex, receiving oral sex, vaginal sex); and whether familism moderated these associations.

Method
Mexican adolescents (N=1123), attending two public schools (71% middle school) completed surveys including: a) age (Mage = 15.03, SDage = 1.60) and gender (46% male); b) two subscales (affection, verbal guidance) of the Mexican Parenting Questionnaire for Adolescents (MPQ-A; Halgunseth et al., 2017); c) sexual intentions (Killoren et al., 2011); d) sexual behaviors such as heavy petting (33.8%), performing oral sex (13.11%), receiving oral sex (12.8%), and vaginal sex (20.6%); e) familism (Unger et al., 2002).

Results
To examine associations between maternal warmth (affection, verbal guidance) and sexual intentions as well as sexual behaviors, and the role of familism in these associations, we performed one hierarchical linear regression with intentions as the outcome, and 4 hierarchical logistic regressions (one per behavioral outcome; See Table 1 for sexual intentions models). We found main effects indicating verbal guidance was associated with a lower likelihood of performing oral sex and a lower likelihood of receiving oral sex. Familism moderated six associations. For verbal guidance, more guidance was associated with less sexual intentions, and lower likelihood of engaging in heavy petting, the associations were stronger for those who endorsed less familism. For affection, more affection was associated with less sexual intentions; and lower likelihood of engaging in heavy petting, performing oral sex, and receiving oral sex. These associations were stronger for those who endorsed more familism.

Discussion
This study emphasizes the role of maternal warmth on Mexican adolescent sexual intentions and sexual behaviors. In contrast to previous studies on Mexican adolescents (Christopher, Johnson, & Roosa, 1993), maternal affection and verbal guidance, components of warmth, were associated with both sexual intentions and behaviors. Familism, however, played an important role in better understanding how affection and verbal guidance are linked to adolescent sexuality. It seemingly had opposite effects on the association between affection and sexuality, compared to the link between verbal guidance and sexuality. It is possible that familism can serve as both a protective factor, and a risk factor. Specifically, there are both positive (e.g., social support) and negative (e.g., caretaker burden) consequences related to familism (Benjet et al., 2009). In the context of verbal guidance, one might see guidance a burden, which may explain why sometimes familism weakens the effect of parenting (e.g., verbal guidance) on sexual behavior. This study expands our understanding of the link between affection and verbal guidance and Mexican adolescent sexuality.

Authors

• Jordyn McCrimmon, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
  Presenting Author

• Sarah Palmer, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
  Non-Presenting Author

• Graciela Espinosa-Hernandez, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
  Non-Presenting Author