Predictors of sexual abstinence behaviour in Taiwanese adolescents: a longitudinal application of the transtheoretical model

Managing Face while Managing Privacy: Factors that Predict Young Adults' Communication about Sexually Transmitted Infections with Romantic Partners

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are among the most common infectious diseases in the United States with nearly 20 million new cases diagnosed each year in young adults (age 15-24). Communicating with romantic partners about STIs can positively influence health outcomes, as treatment can then be sought, yet the discussions themselves can pose several face risks to both the person requesting STI information from a partner and the receiver of that request. This study examines how young adults enact and manage facework strategies in STI-related conversations with romantic partners, using Politeness Theory and Communication Privacy Management Theory as theoretical frameworks. Specifically, this study seeks to understand how self-efficacy in conversations about STIs, intentions to talk about STIs and willingness to communicate about health in general predicts four face response strategies (avoid, communicate with partner/talk, defend self, consider other), and to investigate how boundary permeability moderates each of these relationships. We found that boundary permeability affected the relationships between intentions regarding STIs and the communicate with partner and consider other face management responses in conversations about STIs.

Condom Use Self-Efficacy Among Younger Rural Adolescents: The Influence of Parent-Teen Communication, and Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward Condoms

This study examines the role of condom use knowledge and attitudes, and parent-teen communication about sex and relationship quality on reports of condom use self-efficacy among rural, African American youth. Participants were 465 North Carolinian youth (10-14 years). Results indicated that greater condom use self-efficacy was predicted by greater knowledge of condom use (β = .206; p < .001), more favorable attitudes toward condom use (β = -.20; p < .0001) and parent-teen communication about sex (β = .13; p < .05), and actual parent-teen communication about sex and dating (β = .14; p < .05). There was low agreement between parents and youth on measures related to parent-teen communication about sex. Findings call for interventions targeting improvement of condom use knowledge among early adolescents, as well as parent-teen communication about sex. In addition, given the low parent-teen agreement regarding sexual communication, parent-teen sexual communication is an important point of intervention.

Depression and AIDS Preventive Self-efficacy Among Taiwanese Adolescents

Effectively reducing adolescents' risky sexual behaviors has been an urgent need since the HIV/AIDS infections among young people has been acknowledged as a priority. Self-efficacy has been considered playing an essential role in behavioral changes, and depressed individuals may demonstrate lower self-efficacy. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to gain insights into self-reported depression among 16-18 years-old Taiwanese adolescents as well as to explore psychosocial predictors of AIDS preventive self-efficacy. A convenience sample of 734 adolescents from southern Taiwan was recruited, and several reliable and valid questionnaires were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, odds ratio, independent t-test, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were utilized to analyze data. Results showed that the differences in self-reported depression and in the AIDS preventive self-efficacy varied by gender, substance use, and having sexual experience. Furthermore, depression was a significant predictor of AIDS preventive self-efficacy while controlling the covariates. This study suggests that gender and mental health status such as depression may play significant roles in AIDS preventive self-efficacy. Nurses and health care providers should take the influence of mental health into consideration when designing AIDS preventive interventions for male and female Taiwanese adolescents. The provided information may also enhance psychiatric nurses' capability to provide care and to enhance the prevention of HIV infection for adolescents.

Validity and reliability of a dietary stages of change measure among economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents

PURPOSE

To examine the construct validity and 2-month test-retest reliability of a staging measure for assessing readiness to consume five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables among economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents.

DESIGN

Longitudinal survey.

SETTING

Youth services agencies serving low-income communities in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

SUBJECTS

African-American adolescents (N  =  390) aged 11 to 14 years.

MEASURES

Self-report measures of stage of change and fruit and vegetable consumption.

ANALYSIS

Correlation analysis and analysis of covariance were used to examine, cross-sectionally, whether fruit and vegetable consumption differed by stage of change (validity assessment). Correlation analysis and Cohen's kappa (κ) were used to assess the degree of association and level of agreement between stages longitudinally (test-retest reliability assessment).

RESULTS

Fruit and vegetable consumption was moderately correlated with stage of change (r ≥ .54, p  =  .000). Consistent with the transtheoretical model, youths' consumption increased from earlier to later stages (p  =  .000). Forty-six percent of youths were in the same stage at both measurements. The correlation between stages was .26, and Cohen's κ was .20 (p  =  .000).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite preliminary evidence of construct validity, the low test-retest reliability found suggests that further research and testing are needed to improve the stability of the measure.

Development of Condom-Use Self-Efficacy over 36 months among Early Adolescents: A Mediation Analysis

This research evaluates condom-use self-efficacy and its increase throughout adolescence. Documentation of the development of condom-use self-efficacy would be important for prevention efforts given the influence of self-efficacy on actual condom-usage. This study assesses a hypothesized mediation mechanism of the development of self-efficacy using a mediation analysis approach. The participants, 497 grade-6 Bahamian students, were randomly assigned to the control condition in a 3-year longitudinal HIV prevention program trial. Condom-use self-efficacy consistently increased and condom-use self-efficacy assessed at earlier periods was positively associated with its values at subsequent periods. Additionally, self-efficacy assessed between two time points one year apart or longer (e.g., 6 months between baseline and 12 months) significantly mediated the impact of its levels at the previous assessment on the level at the subsequent assessment. To sustain program effect, HIV prevention programs should strive to enhance self-efficacy and provide reinforcing "boosters" no later than 12 months post-intervention.

Psychometric testing of the Chinese version of the Contraceptive Behavior Scale: a preliminary study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To test the psychometric characteristics of a five-item Chinese Contraceptive Behavior Scale (CBS) among female adolescents in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND

Improving contraceptive practice is important for reducing adolescent pregnancy. A scale for measuring contraceptive behaviour of sexually active female adolescents will help nurses promote contraceptive practices to sexually active female adolescents.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional design.

METHODS

Based on literature review and interview with female adolescents, a five-item CBS was developed. Using convenience sampling, 525 sexually active female adolescents were invited to complete the (anonymous) CBS. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), contrasting group validity and concurrent validity were tested to examine the validity of CBS. A multiple-group analysis was used to test the cross-validation of the structure of CBS in two groups. Cronbach's α and test-retest reliability were used to examine the reliability of CBS.

RESULTS

One factor was produced by exploratory factor analysis. Each item significantly loaded on the CBS by CFA. A multiple-group analysis indicated that the structure of CBS was reliable across two different samples. The overall chi-square and model fit indices were χ(2)=13.554, df=8, p=0.094, normed fit index=0.992, comparative fit index=0.994 and root mean square error of approximation=0.036 (90% CI=0.001, 0.069). The scores of CBS significantly correlated with subscales of perceptions of benefits to contraception (r=0.47, p<0.001) and subscales of perceptions of barriers to contraception (r=-0.29, p<0.001). CBS mean scores significantly differed between the participants who used and did not use contraceptives at first sexual intercourse (t=10.00, p<0.001). Cronbach's α for the CBS was 0.81. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.94. Conclusions.  The CBS had satisfactory validity and reliability. Relevance to clinical practice.  Nurses can use CBS to initiate discussions with sexually active female adolescents about their contraceptive practices and provide them with useful strategies to improve their contraceptive practices.