Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Psychol Health Med. 2011 May;16(3):346-56. doi: 10.1080/13548506.2011.554562.
Adolescents, particularly African American adolescents, are at high risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The association between psychosocial factors and risky sexual behavior has been well established. However, only a small number of studies have examined the relationship between depressive symptomatology among African American female adolescents, specifically over time. The present study examined depressive symptoms as a predictor of risky sexual behavior, sexual communication, and STIs longitudinally among African American female adolescents between the ages 15 and 21. Binary generalized estimating equation models were conducted assessing the impact of depressive symptoms at baseline on risky sexual behavior and STIs over six- and 12-months follow-up. Age, intervention group, and baseline outcome measures were entered as covariates. The results indicated that high levels of depressive symptoms predicted no condom use during last sexual encounter and multiple sexual partners over six-months follow-up. Depressive symptoms also predicted having a main partner with concurrent partners, high fear of communication about condoms, and sex while high on alcohol or drugs over six- and 12-months follow-up. These findings could be used to inform HIV/STI prevention intervention programs and clinicians providing regular health care maintenance to African American female adolescents engaging in risky sexual behavior.
青少年，尤其是非裔美国青少年，面临着很高的性传播感染（STI）风险。心理社会因素与危险性行为之间的关联已得到充分证实。然而，只有少数研究探讨了非裔美国少女中抑郁症状与特定时间内的危险性行为、性沟通和性传播感染之间的关系。本研究在 15 至 21 岁的非裔美国少女中，纵向研究了抑郁症状作为危险性行为、性沟通和性传播感染的预测因素。采用二元广义估计方程模型评估了基线时抑郁症状对 6 个月和 12 个月随访期间危险性行为和性传播感染的影响。年龄、干预组和基线结果测量被作为协变量输入。结果表明，高水平的抑郁症状预示着在过去的性行为中不使用避孕套和在 6 个月的随访期间有多个性伴侣。抑郁症状还预测了在 6 个月和 12 个月的随访期间，主要伴侣有同时的伴侣、对避孕套沟通的高度恐惧，以及在酒精或药物作用下发生性行为。这些发现可用于为参与危险性行为的非裔美国少女的 HIV/性传播感染预防干预计划和提供常规保健的临床医生提供信息。
