Sexual Behavior Among Justice-Involved Youth: Links to Positive Youth Development

• In Event: 1-094 - Focus on the Positives: Examining Positive Developmental Outcomes Within At-Risk Populations

Integrative Statement

Adolescents involved in the justice system are at risk for unsafe sexual practices (Bryan, Schmiege & Magnan, 2012; Elkington et al., 2008) such as inconsistent condom use (Broaddus & Bryan, 2008). Recent research, however, emphasizes sexual behavior as a normative and healthy component of development (Tolman & McClelland, 2013). Although sexual behavior may sometimes result in negative consequences (e.g., STDS, unintended pregnancies), recent research also links sexual behavior to positive outcomes, such as higher self-esteem and lower stress reactivity (see Harden, 2014). The present study extends this sex-positive perspective to a group of at-risk teenagers and considers whether sexual behavior relates to well-being among justice-involved youth. Specifically, we ask: (1) is sex related to higher well-being across development? (2) is consistent condom use related to higher well-being across development? and (3) does relationship status and relationship quality moderate the association between sexual behavior and well-being?

Data came from a sample of 1,216 males between the ages of 13-17 years old (Mage = 15.29) at their first arrest. Study recruitment occurred at three sites across the United States (PA, CA and LA) and youth were interviewed every six months for three years. This sample consists of Latino (46.8%), African American (36.9%), Caucasian (14.8%) and Other (2.5%) youth. Sexual behavior was measured with two time-varying predictors: (1) vaginal sex during the past 6-months, (2) frequency of condom use over the past 6-months. Well-being was assessed through connectedness (e.g., reporting satisfying social relationships, feeling valued) and depressive symptoms. Youth indicated whether they were in a serious romantic relationship at each interview, and if so, whether their partner behaved in a hostile manner. Our models also accounted for race, parent education, self-reported delinquency, and parental disclosure.

We ran several nested multilevel models to account for the within-person longitudinal data clustering. We evaluated the relation between sexual behavior and well-being, and subsequently considered relationship status and quality as moderators. Our results suggest that youth having sex report higher connectedness (b = .05, p = .02), but do not differ in depressive symptoms (b = .15, p = .23). Partner hostility emerged as a significant moderator, suggesting sex was related to higher depressive symptoms among youth in hostile relationships. Youth reporting more consistent condom use also reported fewer depressive symptoms (b = -.21, p = .005) and higher levels of connectedness (b = .04, p = .002). Relationship status moderated this association: condom use was associated with well-being among youth not in committed relationships (Figures 1-2).

Within the context of justice-involved populations, sex is largely treated as a risky outcome that warrants prevention. The present findings, however, suggest that sexual behavior is linked to feelings of closeness and connection with others. Our findings indicate that condom use within and outside of committed relationships operates differently, a finding that aligns with other populations of developing youth. Sexual health educators may fail to teach youth about the risks of sexual behavior when they ignore the benefits youth perceive from these same behaviors.

Authors

• Alissa Knowles, University of California, Irvine
  Presenting Author

• Paul J. Frick, Louisiana State University and Australian Catholic University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Laurence D. Steinberg, Temple University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Elizabeth Cauffman, University of California, Irvine
  Non-Presenting Author