A Youth Developmental Approach to Profiling Sexual Abstinence

Roy F. Oman, PhD; Sara K. Vesely, PhD; Michelle Kegler, DrPH, MPH Kenneth McLeroy, PhD, FAAHB; Cheryl B. Aspy, PhD

Objective: To use youth and parent demographic factors, youth assets (strengths), and community constructs to develop age-group-specific profiles for youth who abstain from sexual activity.  Methods: Data were collected using in-person interviews of youth (N=1253) residing in randomly selected, inner-city neighborhood households. Data were analyzed to create classification trees. Results: Results indicated that assets typically were the most important factors related to abstinence and that the profiles differed for each age group.  Conclusion: When sexual abstinence is considered, the influence of youth and parent demographics, youth assets, and community factors appears to vary across adolescent developmental age periods.

Key words: positive youth development, assets, sexual abstinence
Am J Health Behav 2003;27(Supplement 1):S80-S93