The relationships among acculturation, sex knowledge, and risky sex behavior in Latina undergraduates of Mexican descent in South Texas: A quantitative examination

Acculturation and sex knowledge have been shown to be predictors of sex behavior among the general population of Latinos in the United States. Latina college students are a diverse group acculturated at different levels, who are at high risk for sexually transmitted infection (STI) and/or unintended pregnancy because of high participation in risky sex behavior, low contraception use, and limited access to accurate sex information. An STI and/or unintended pregnancy can interrupt an academic trajectory and potentially lead to premature departure from college. This is particularly problematic for Latina college students because of existing low college completion rates for this population. To help prevent an academic disruption because of risky sex behavior, this study explored how acculturation and sex knowledge predicted sex behavior for a specific Latina population. The Short Acculturation Scale (SASH) measured acculturation level, the Sexual Knowledge and Attitude Test for Adolescents (SKAT-A) measured sex knowledge and attitudes about sex, and the Sexual Risk Survey (SRS) measured degree of risky sex behavior. A Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was utilized to explore a relationship between the SASH and SRS and analyze a relationship between acculturation level and specific risky sex behavior: (i) Sexual Risk-Taking with Uncommitted Partners (casual sex), (ii) Risky Sex Acts (unprotected sex), (iii) Impulsive Sexual Behaviors, (iv) Intent to Engage in Risky Sex Behavior, and (v) Risky Anal Sex Acts (unprotected anal sex). A Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and a Spearman's rho were used to explore a relationship between sex knowledge and risky sex behavior and evaluate the relationship between the following three variables: age, student classification, and religiosity and risky sex behavior. The findings suggested a relationship between sex knowledge and risky sex behavior. However, no significant relationship was found with acculturation; therefore, acculturation was not a predictor of sex behavior for this group. Additionally, strong correlations were found with age and student classification in relation to sex behavior. This information assists mental health professionals and other health care professionals to more accurately target sex behavior interventions for Latinas based on sex knowledge and demographic characteristics such as age and student classification.