Early socioeconomic disadvantage and young adult sexual health.

OBJECTIVE

To test a longitudinal and multilevel model predicting young adult risky sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted infections.

METHODS

Data from 14,058 participants in 3 waves were used to link community and family disadvantage, adolescent adjustment problems, and risky sexual behaviors with STIs.

RESULTS

Community-level disadvantage, being African American, and being female remained predictors of sexual behaviors and STIs whereas adolescent adjustment mediated the effect of several family characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates how individual-, family-, and community-level characteristics and vulnerabilities contribute to young adult sexual risk and STI prevalence. Findings indicate specific individual characteristics and childhood experiences that should be specific targets of STI prevention efforts.