Timing of Sexual Behaviors among Female Adolescents of Mexican-Origin: The Role of Cultural Variables

Abstract

We examined the associations between Latino cultural variables and four sexual behaviors among female adolescents of Mexican origin. Participants ages 14 to 19 (N = 153; 70% born in the U.S) completed surveys about four sexual behaviors (making out, receiving and performing oral sex, and vaginal sex) and cultural variables (nativity, language use, familism, and importance of female virginity). Findings indicated that participants who were born in the U.S. were less likely to have engaged in making out and vaginal sex than participants born in Mexico. Participants reporting stronger familism were less likely to have engaged in making out and oral sex than participants reporting less familism. For all behaviors, placing a greater value on female virginity was associated with lesser odds of engaging in that behavior. This study expands our understanding of the role of nativity and Latino values in the sexual behaviors of Mexican-origin female adolescents.