Sex Differences in the Pathways from Exposure to Parental Fighting to Risky Sexual Activities Among Adolescents in Urban Neighborhoods.

Abstract

Adolescents' exposure to violence between parents acts as a precursor to risky behaviors; however, empirical studies that examinedthe potential pathways from exposure to violence between parents to risky behaviorsare rare. Consequently, the prevention and intervention strategiesforrisky sexual activities are limited without the identification of malleable mediators. Mediators on the association between adolescent exposure to parental fighting and risky sexual activities are examined, which include internalizing behaviors, running away from home, and affiliation with risky peers. Relationships between these variables are examined for males and females separately. The sample consists of 673 adolescents in a neighborhood locatedin Chicago's Southsidewho completed a survey. Exposure to parental fighting was not directly associated with risky sexual activities for either males or females. However, among females, exposure to parental fighting was significantly and positivelyrelated to internalizing behaviors and running away from home, and internalizing behaviors were also positivelyassociated with running away from home. For males, however, only the association between internalizing behaviors and running away from home was found to be significant. Further, the relationship between exposure to parental fighting and risky sexual activities was mediated by running away from home. Targeted strategies for prevention are critical for improving sexual health outcomes among adolescents in low-resourcedurban neighborhoods.