Perceived peer norms and sexual intentions among African American preadolescents

The purpose of the research was to examine whether perceived peer dating and sexual experience norms are related to attitudes toward dating and sexual behavior and to precoital and sexual intentions among African American preadolescents. Participants included 1,046 African American youth aged 9-12 years (M = 10.57 years). Youth completed a baseline survey as part of a larger intervention study. Perceived peer norms regarding dating and sexual experience were positively related to youth attitudes toward dating and sexual behavior. Youth who perceived their peers as not engaging in sexual activity were less likely to have precoital or sexual intentions. The relationships were not moderated by gender of the preadolescent. Findings from this study suggest that addressing peer norms around dating and sexual activity among preadolescent African American youth may be important for prevention efforts aimed at encouraging abstinence and the delay of sexual activity.