Social and psychological factors associated with AIDS risk behaviors among low-income, urban, African American adolescents

We examined the social and psychological factors associated with sexual intercourse and substance use among 269 low-income, urban, African American adolescents, aged 11 to 14 years. Older youths reported more sexual intercourse. Age was controlled in all analyses. Sexually active youths reported more conflict with parents and sexual intercourse among friends. Youths involved with illegal substances reported that more friends used illegal substances. Although boys were more likely than girls to report sexual intercourse, they did not differ in number of partners or condom use. Girls reported higher rates of parental monitoring and more support from their families and communities. There were no differences in delinquency, sensation seeking, intelligence, or locus of control associated with risk practices. Early sexuality was not linked with other risk practices, suggesting that, within this culture, early sexual intercourse is not part of a general theory of problem behavior.