Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Regression Mixture Models of Alcohol Use and Risky Sexual Behavior Among Criminally-Involved Adolescents

  • Published:
Prevention Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Adolescents involved with the criminal justice system engage in high levels of both risky sexual behavior and alcohol use. Yet a strong relationship between the two constructs has not been consistently observed, possibly due to heterogeneity in the data. Regression mixture models were estimated in the current study to address such potential heterogeneity. Criminally-involved adolescents (n = 409) were clustered into latent classes based on patterns of the regression of two measures of risky sexual behavior, condom use and frequency of intercourse, on alcohol use. A three-class solution emerged where alcohol use did not significantly predict either risky sex outcome for approximately 25% of the sample; alcohol use negatively predicted condom use and positively predicted frequency of intercourse for approximately 38% of participants; and alcohol use negatively predicted condom use but not frequency of intercourse for the remaining participants. These classes were then distinguished on the basis of five covariates previously found to influence either alcohol use, risky sexual behavior, or the relationship between the two: self-esteem, gender, participant age, relationship status, and impulsivity/sensation-seeking. High self-esteem, being female, being older, and being in a relationship predicted membership in the class with no observed relationship of alcohol use to risky sex, relative to the other classes. Implications of the present findings are discussed in terms of exploring different risky sex and alcohol use patterns within criminally involved adolescents, as well as understanding the effectiveness of interventions for subgroups of individuals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. These exclusionary criteria are consistent with other research in this domain (e.g., Bryan et al. 2007; Kingree and Phan 2002; Tubman and Langer 1995) and are based on the match to the research question of the present study. Specifically, the study is exploring whether there is unidentified heterogeneity in the data with different subgroups of individuals who both drink alcohol and have sexual intercourse who do or do not show the positive relationship between alcohol use and risky sex. We acknowledge that this approach necessarily overestimates the proportion of individuals for whom alcohol use predicts risky sexual behavior, as individuals lacking experience with both alcohol and sexual behavior would not be expected to demonstrate a relationship between the two. Including these double-abstainers certainly would have increased the number who emerged in the “no relationship” class; however, the later characterization of this class based on the covariates would not be as meaningful because it would be impossible to distinguish those who did not exhibit a relationship between the two due to zero scores on both constructs from those who truly did not demonstrate a relationship between the two constructs based on the theoretical rationale suggested by the covariates that emerged as significant.

References

  • Bailey, S. L., Gao, W., & Clark, D. B. (2006). Diary study of substance use and unsafe sex among adolescents with substance use disorders. The Journal of Adolescent Health, 38, 297.e13–297.e20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barthlow, D. J., Horan, P. F., DiClemente, R. J., & Lanier, M. M. (1995). Correlates of condom use among incarcerated adolescents in a rural state. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 22, 295–306. doi:10.1177/0093854895022003007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brook, J. S., Balka, E. B., & Abernathy, T. (1994). Sequence of sexual behavior and its relationship to other problem behaviors in African American and Puerto Rican adolescents. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 155, 107–114.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bryan, A., Aiken, L. S., & West, S. G. (2004). HIV/STD risk among incarcerated adolescents: Optimism about the future and self-esteem as predictors of condom use self-efficacy. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 34, 912–936. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2004.tb02577.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bryan, A., Rochelau, C. A., Robbins, R. N., & Hutchison, K. E. (2005). Condom use among high-risk adolescents: Testing the influence of alcohol use on the relationship of cognitive correlates of behavior. Health Psychology, 24, 133–142. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.24.2.133.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bryan, A., Ray, L., & Cooper, M. L. (2007). Alcohol use and protective sexual behaviors among high-risk adolescents. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 68, 327–335.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Castrucci, B. C., & Martin, S. L. (2002). The association between substance use and risky sexual behaviors among incarcerated adolescents. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 3, 43–47. doi:10.1023/A:1014316200584.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2005). HIV/AIDS among youth. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts/youth.pdf. Retrieved 25 April 2006.

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006). National Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 1991–2003: Trends in the prevalence of sexual behaviors. http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/pdfs/trends-sex.pdf. Retrieved 25 April 2006.

  • Clark, R. D., & Hatfield, E. (1989). Gender differences in receptivity to sexual offers. Journal of Psychology & Human Sexuality, 2, 39–55. doi:10.1300/J056v02n01_04.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Conigrave, K. M., Hall, W. D., & Saunders, J. B. (1995). The AUDIT questionnaire: Choosing a cut-off score. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 90, 1349–1356. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.1995.tb03552.x.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, M. L. (2002). Alcohol use and risky sexual behavior among college students and youth: Evaluating the evidence. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 14, 101–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, M. L. (2006). Does drinking promote risky sexual behavior? A complex answer to a simple question. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 15, 19–23. doi:10.1111/j.0963-7214.2006.00385.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, M. L., & Orcutt, H. K. (1997). Drinking and sexual experience on first dates among adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 106, 191–202. doi:10.1037/0021-843X.106.2.191.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, M. L., Wood, P. K., Orcutt, H. K., & Albino, A. (2003). Personality and the predisposition to engage in risky or problem behaviors during adolescence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 390–410. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.390.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ding, C. S. (2006). Using regression mixture analysis in educational research. Practical Assessment. Research Evaluation, 11, 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ethier, K. A., Kershaw, T. S., Lewis, J. B., Milan, S., Niccolai, L. M., & Ickovics, J. R. (2006). Self-esteem, emotional distress and sexual behaviour among adolescent females: Inter-relationships and temporal effects. The Journal of Adolescent Health, 38, 268–274. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2004.12.010.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flisher, A. J., & Chalton, D. O. (2001). Adolescent contraceptive non-use and covariation among risk behaviors. The Journal of Adolescent Health, 28, 235–241. doi:10.1016/S1054-139X(00)00157-9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fortenberry, J. D., Orr, D. P., Katz, B. P., Brizendine, E. J., & Blythe, M. J. (1997). Sex under the influence: A diary self-report study of substance use and sexual behavior among adolescent women. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 24, 313–319. doi:10.1097/00007435-199707000-00001.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gold, R. S., Karmiloff-Smith, A., Skinner, M. J., & Morton, J. (1992). Situational factors and thought processes associated with unprotected intercourse in heterosexual students. AIDS Care, 4, 305–323. doi:10.1080/09540129208253101.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Guilamo-Ramos, V., Litardo, H. A., & Jaccard, J. (2005). Prevention programs for reducing adolescent problem behaviors: Implications of the co-occurrence of problem behaviors in adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Health, 36, 82–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Halpern-Felsher, B. L., Millstein, S. G., & Ellen, J. M. (1996). Relationship of alcohol use and risky sexual behavior: A review and analysis of findings. Journal of Adolescent Health, 19, 331–336.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holmbeck, G. N., Crossman, R. E., Wandrei, M. L., & Gasiewiski, E. (1994). Cognitive development, egocentrism, self-esteem, and adolescent contraceptive knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 23, 169–193.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huba, G. J., Tenner, A., Panter, A. T., Remafedi, G., Melchior, L. A., Greenberg, B., et al. (2003). Modeling HIV risk in highly vulnerable youth. Structural Equation Modeling, 10, 583–608.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hull, J. G., & Bond, C. F. (1986). Social and behavioral consequences of alcohol consumption and expectancy: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 99, 347–360.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jessor, R., Turbin, M. S., & Costa, F. M. (1998). Protective factors in adolescent health behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 788–800.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Justus, A. N., Finn, P. R., & Steinmetz, J. E. (2000). The influence of traits of disinhibition on the association between alcohol use and risky sexual behavior. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 24, 1028–1035.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kalichman, S. C., & Cain, D. (2004). A prospective study of sensation seeking and alcohol use as predictors of sexual risk behaviors among men and women receiving sexually transmitted infection clinic services. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 18, 367–373.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kalichman, S. C., Cain, D., Zweben, A., & Swain, G. (2003). Sensation seeking, alcohol use and sexual risk behaviors among men receiving services at a clinic for sexually transmitted infections. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 64, 564–569.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kalichman, S. C., Heckman, T., & Kelly, J. A. (1996). Sensation seeking, substance use, and, HIV–AIDS risk behavior: Tests of directional relationships among gay men. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 25, 141–154.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kingree, J. B., & Phan, D. L. (2001). Marijuana use and HIV risk among adolescent offenders: The moderating effect of age. Journal of Substance Abuse, 13, 59–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kingree, J. B., & Phan, D. (2002). Marijuana use and unprotected sexual intercourse among adolescent detainees: An event analysis. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 29, 705–717.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ku, L., Sonenstein, F. L., & Pleck, J. H. (1993). Young men’s risk behaviors for HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases, 1988 through 1991. American Journal of Public Health, 83, 1609–1615.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LaBrie, J. W., Earleywine, M., Schiffman, J., Pederson, E., & Marriot, C. (2005). Effect of alcohol, expectancies, and partner type on condom use in college males: Event-level analyses. Journal of Sex Research, 42, 259–266.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leigh, B. C. (2002). Alcohol and condom use: A meta-analysis of event-level studies. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 29, 476–482.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leigh, B. C., & Stall, R. (1993). Substance use and risky sexual behavior for exposure to HIV: Issues in methodology, interpretation, and prevention. American Psychologist, 48, 1035–1045.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lo, Y., Mendell, N. R., & Rubin, D. B. (2001). Testing the number of components in a normal mixture. Biometrika, 88, 767–778.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowry, R., Holtzman, D., Truman, B. I., Kann, L., Collins, J. L., & Kolbe, L. J. (1994). Substance use and HIV-related sexual behaviors among US high school students: Are they related? American Journal of Public Health, 84, 1116–1120.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Macaluso, M., Demand, M. J., Artz, L. M., & Hook III., E. W. (2000). Partner type and condom use. AIDS, 14, 537–546.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McLachlan, G. J., & Peel, D. (2000). Finite mixture models. New York: Wiley.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, R. E., Harrison, E. A., Knox, G. W., Tromanhauser, E., & Marquis, D. K. (1995). Health risk behavioral survey from 39 juvenile correctional facilities in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health, 17, 334–344.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, R. E., Baker, C. J., Valentine, M., & Pennisi, A. J. (1998). Variations in HIV risk behaviors of incarcerated juveniles during a four-year period: 1989–1992. Journal of Adolescent Health, 23, 39–48.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, B. O. (2002). Beyond SEM: General latent variable modeling. Behaviormetrika, 29, 81–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, B. O., & Muthén, L. K. (2000). Integrating person-centered and variable-centered analysis: Growth mixture modeling with latent trajectory classes. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 24, 882–891.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (1998–2008). Mplus user’s guide (5th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noar, S. M., Zimmerman, R. S., Palmgreen, P., Lustria, M., & Horosewski, M. L. (2006). Integrating personality and psychosocial theoretical approaches to understanding safer sexual behavior: Implications for message design. Health Communication, 19, 165–174.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nylund, K. L., Asparouhov, T., & Muthén, B. (2007). Deciding on the number of classes in latent class analysis and growth mixture modeling. A Monte Carlo simulation study. Structural Equation Modeling, 14, 535–569.

    Google Scholar 

  • Otto-Salaj, L. L., Gore-Felton, C., McGarvey, E., & Canterbury II, R. J. (2002). Psychiatric functioning and substance use: Factors associated with HIV risk among incarcerated adolescents. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 33, 91–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rees, V., Saitz, R., Horton, N. J., & Samet, J. (2001). Association of alcohol consumption with HIV sex- and drug-risk behaviors among drug users. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 21, 129–134.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reisen, C. A., & Poppen, P. J. (1995). College women and condom use: Importance of partner relationship. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 25, 1485–1498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robbins, R. N., & Bryan, A. (2004). Relationships between future orientation, impulsive sensation seeking, and risk behavior among adjudicated adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Research, 19, 428–445.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Romero, E. G., Teplin, L. A., McClelland, G. M., Abram, K. M., Welty, L. J., & Washburn, J. J. (2007). A longitudinal study of the prevalence, development, and persistence of HIV/sexually transmitted infection risk behaviors in delinquent youth: Implications for health care in the community. Pediatrics, 119, 1126–1141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saunders, J. B., Aasland, O. G., Babor, T. F., de la Fuente, J. R., & Grant, R. (1993). Development of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): WHO collaborative project on early detection or persons with harmful alcohol consumption: II. Addiction, 88, 791–804.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmiege, S. J., Broaddus, M. R., Levin, M., & Bryan, A. (2009). Randomized trial of group interventions to reduce HIV/STD risk and change theoretical mediators among detained adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77, 38–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steele, C. M., & Josephs, R. A. (1990). Alcohol myopia: Its prized and dangerous effects. American Psychologist, 45, 921–933.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Teplin, L. A., Mericle, A. A., McClelland, G. M., & Abram, K. M. (2003). HIV and AIDS risky behaviors in juvenile detainees: Implications for public health policy. American Journal of Public Health, 93, 906–912.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tubman, J. G., & Langer, L. M. (1995). “About last night”: The social ecology of sexual behavior relative to alcohol use among adolescents and young adults in substance abuse treatment. Journal of Substance Abuse, 7, 449–461.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Unger, J. B., Kipke, M. D., Simon, T. R., Montgomery, S. B., & Johnson, C. J. (1997). Homeless youths and young adults in Los Angeles: Prevalence of mental health problems and the relationship between mental health and substance abuse disorders. American Journal of Community Psychology, 25, 371–394.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vermunt, J. K., & Magidson, J. (2002). Latent class cluster analysis. In J. A. Hagenaars & A. L. McCutcheon (Eds.), Applied latent class analysis (pp. 89–106). New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinhardt, L. S., & Carey, M. P. (2000). Does alcohol lead to sexual risk behavior? Findings from event-level research. Annual Review of Sex Research, 11, 125–157.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whaley, A. L. (1999). Preventing the high-risk sexual behavior of adolescents: Focus on HIV/AIDS transmission, unintended pregnancy, or both? Journal of Adolescent Health, 24, 376–382.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, M. L., Freeman, R. C., Bowen, A. M., Zhao, Z., Elwood, W. N., Gordon, C., et al. (2000). A comparison of the reliability of self-reported drug use and sexual behaviors using computer-assisted versus face-to-face interviewing. AIDS Education and Prevention, 12, 199–213.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M. (1994). Impulsive unsocialized sensation seeking: The biological foundations of a basic dimension of personality. In J. E. Bates, & T. D. Wachs (Eds.), Temperament: Individual differences at the interface of biology and behavior (pp. 219–255). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarah J. Schmiege.

Additional information

Grant Support: This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse awarded to Angela Bryan (R01 AA013844-01).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schmiege, S.J., Levin, M.E. & Bryan, A.D. Regression Mixture Models of Alcohol Use and Risky Sexual Behavior Among Criminally-Involved Adolescents. Prev Sci 10, 335–344 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-009-0135-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-009-0135-z

Keywords

Navigation