Acculturation and the sexual and reproductive health of Latino youth in the United States: a literature review.

Latinos in the United States have been described as a people "in flux." (1) In 2004, an estimated 40.4 million Latinos were living in the country, representing 14% of the total population. (2) Because a large proportion are of childbearing age, the Latino population is projected to reach 60.4 million by 2020; Latinos are expected to account for 46% of the nation's population growth over this period, and non-Latino whites for 24%. While the national teenage birthrate has declined 67% in the last decade, the birthrate among Latina teenagers has declined only 21% and remains the highest among all ethnicities-83 births per 1,000, nearly twice the national average of 43 per 1,000. (3)

High fertility among foreign-born Latinas may fuel these high birthrates. In a Los Angeles-based study, foreign-born Mexican teenagers were less likely to initiate sex than their U.S.-born Mexican and non-Mexican counterparts, but those who initiated sex were more likely to get pregnant and to give birth. (4) Thus, Mexican teenagers born outside the United States may be at relatively high risk of childbearing. Whether this risk persists or diminishes with longer U.S. residency is of increasing interest. In one study of young women of Mexican origin and low socioeconomic status, later generations had a higher likelihood of having a premarital birth by age 22 than earlier generations (i.e., second- or third-generation vs. first-generation), suggesting that the risk persists and is magnified. (5)

These two studies did not explicitly discuss underlying acculturation processes, but other sexual and reproductive health studies have implicated acculturation. Acculturation has been viewed as a linear progression, whereby immigrants gradually adopt the values, behaviors and traits of their host culture and discard those of their country of origin. (6) Studies of "integration or assimilation" have focused on immigrants' educational and employment status as compared with that of the native population. (7) Yet an immigrant can adopt behaviors of the host culture or achieve social mobility without fully identifying with the host culture. (8)

Research among Latino adults that has explicitly investigated the role of acculturation has found that sexual risk-taking increases with greater acculturation. Yet this relationship does not apply to all outcomes, and there is need for improved understanding of the mechanisms through which acculturation influences sexual behavior. For example, although acculturation among adult Latinas has been associated with a greater number of lifetime sexual partners (9) and elevated rates of potentially risky sexual behavior such as oral sex, (10) it may encourage contraceptive use among sexually active adult males and females. (11)

To improve efforts aimed at reducing childbearing among Latina teenagers, it is necessary to understand how acculturation influences their sexual and reproductive health. (12) This article presents a systematic review of the existing research and seeks to answer the following questions: What is the relationship between acculturation and the sexual and reproductive health of Latino youth in the United States? What acculturation theories have been employed to explain this relationship? What measures of acculturation have been used, and which best explain variations in sexual and reproductive health outcomes?

METHODS

We selected articles in three stages. First, we searched PUBMED, POPLINE and ERIC for the period 1985-2006, using key search terms, including "acculturation," "Hispanic," "Latin Americans" and "Hispanic Americans." This database search yielded a total of 705 articles, from which we collected abstracts of all empirical studies that were published in an English-language journal and that specifically investigated a sexual or reproductive health outcome. All fertility-related outcomes (pregnancy, birth, abortion) and their proximate determinants (attitudes, knowledge, norms, sexual activity, contraceptive use) were considered sexual or reproductive health outcomes. Second, we reviewed each abstract to determine the study's eligibility. Acceptance criteria included use of a cross-sectional or longitudinal design and explicit investigation of the relationship between acculturation and sexual or reproductive health, or use of acculturation as a covariate in the analysis. We excluded studies that used proxy measures of acculturation (e.g., U.S. nativity) but that did not explicitly refer to them as acculturation measures. Other criteria were having a sample of males, females or both aged 25 or younger and conducting Latino-specific analyses. This last criterion was chosen to facilitate interpretation of the findings. For example, it was difficult to interpret a lack of association between acculturation and sexual and reproductive health if Latino adolescents were a minority in a study's sample.

In the third stage, four additional studies were selected from the reference lists of the articles identified in the first two stages, using the same criteria.

In total, 82 studies from the database search focused on sexual and reproductive health outcomes. We excluded adult-focused studies, as well as adolescent-focused studies that examined violence in relationships or HIV risk among males who have sex with males. Following these various screening steps, 17 studies remained for our analysis.

RESULTS

Study Designs

Among the 17 studies that met our criteria, only the one by Guilamo-Ramos et al. was nationally representative, and it sampled youth in grades 7-11 (Table 1, page 210). (13) Upchurch et al., Ford and Norris, Norris and Ford, and Slonim-Nevo used area probability samples. (14) The remaining 12 studies used school-based, (15) clinic-based (16) or other convenience samples (17) Two studies were longitudinal, (18) and the other 15 had cross-sectional designs. Sample sizes varied from 61 respondents (19) to 7,270 respondents. (20)

Study populations tended to represent Latinos of Mexican origin, although some included considerable representation of other subgroups, such as Puerto Ricans and Central Americans. (21) A New York City study, with its predominantly Dominican sample, and a south Florida study, with its Cuban sample, were the exceptions. (22)

Data on respondents' socioeconomic status, education level and recruitment site, which were available in 14 studies, (23) showed that the Latino youth typically were disadvantaged, which further limits generalizability. For example, in most of these studies, either the entire sample or a large proportion received some form of public assistance or had parents with low education levels. Exceptions were the sample for the Guilamo-Ramos et al. study, 20% of whom received public assistance, and the Raffaelli, Zamboanga and Carlo sample, who were college students. (24)

The studies used different analytic approaches. For example, nine studies had only female samples, (25) and two analyzed males and females separately; (26) the remaining six combined males and females in their analyses, (27) making it difficult to assess whether associations varied by gender. All but two studies (28) adjusted the analyses for various demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral and sociocultural factors.

Theories of Acculturation

All studies except one (29) commented on theories that might explain how acculturation influences sexual and reproductive health. Overall, two general theories were employed. One, which we label "stress theory," emphasizes the stress that immigrant teenagers face in adapting to a different culture. According to this theory, teenagers who are faced with negotiating competing values and norms of different cultures may experience stress and be vulnerable to high-risk or maladaptive behaviors, such as early sexual initiation. Thus, the more acculturated a teenager is, the more stress he or she faces and the more likely he or she is to engage in risky behaviors. (30)

The second general theory, "cultural norms theory," describes acculturation as a process of change in values and norms regarding gender, sexual activity and family formation. (31) For example, the less acculturated Latinas are, the more value they may place on virginity, family responsibility and obedience to men, a concept known as marianismo. (32) Thus, increased acculturation might lead to heightened awareness of alternative roles for women and a reduced likelihood of adolescent childbearing. Acculturation can also be viewed in terms of losing or retaining traditional norms that shape family relationships. For example, greater acculturation might lead to a loss of traditional norms such as simpatia, which emphasizes maintenance of harmonious relations; respeto, which emphasizes avoidance of conflict and respect for authority within the family; (33) and familism, which stresses the importance of family life and interdependent relations among the individual, family and community. (34) Thus, less acculturated teenagers would tend to avoid engaging in behaviors that violate these norms; greater acculturation might lead to more sexual risk-taking.

Acculturation Measures

A total of 23 measures of acculturation were used in these studies (Table 2, page 212). We classified them into four primary dimensions of acculturation: time, language, culture and residence. A fifth classification included measures that capture multiple dimensions.

* Time. Three principal measures were employed to assess respondents' exposure to U.S. culture: nativity, generation and number of years living in the country. (35) Nativity (respondent's or a parent's) referred to the country of birth--the United States or elsewhere. A foreign-born respondent was classified as a first-generation immigrant; a U.S.-born respondent who had at least one foreign-born parent was classified as second-generation; if the respondent and both parents were born in the United States, he or she was classified as third-generation.

* Language. English language acquisition is one of the modifications that may accompany acculturation. (36) Eight measures of the language dimension were used, all of which tried to capture the respondents' degree of preference for, usage of or proficiency in Spanish versus English. Four studies used the Short Language Acculturation Scale developed by Marin et al.; it asks respondents which language they prefer to read in, they prefer to think in, they usually speak at home and they prefer to use when speaking with friends. (37) The scale, adapted from acculturation scales dating to the late 1970s, correlates highly with generation, time living in the United States and other acculturation proxies, and has high reliability. (38) The Linguistic Acculturation Scale, employed in two studies, comprises three items about respondents' preferred language for reading, writing and speaking. This scale was adapted from the 11-item acculturation scale of Cuellar, Harris and Jasso, which was developed and validated for the Mexican American population. (39) The other measures were language spoken at home, primary language spoken, childhood language, current language, language of interview and language spoken with friends.

* Culture. Measures used to capture the cultural dimension of acculturation were cultural enjoyment, ethnic identity, biculturalism and cultural orientation. Tschann et al. (40) adapted the Latino and American cultural enjoyment scales from validated scales of an earlier study. (41) The original scales were based on a multidimensional model that views acculturation as both a process of "relinquishing or retaining characteristics" of the culture of origin and a process of accommodating to the host culture. They assessed the degree to which a person enjoys aspects of each culture--Latino or "Anglo-American" culture-and were tested among Cuban American high school students in the Miami area. Two six-item subscales were used. Items for the Latino enjoyment subscale included "How much do you enjoy Hispanic music?" and "How much do you enjoy Hispanic books and magazines?" Items for the American enjoyment subscale were similar.

Fraser et al. (42) used nine items adapted from a validated scale developed by Padilla to measure ethnic identification. (43) The original scale was developed to indicate respondents' cultural awareness and ethnic loyalty and was tested in a population of Mexican American adults in southern California. Padilla defined cultural awareness as knowledge of specific cultural material (e.g., language, values, history, art), and ethnic loyalty as a preference for one cultural orientation over another (e.g., seeking out friends or marrying within one's ethnic group). A low score on the ethnic identification scale indicated a strong identification with the Latino culture of origin; a high score indicated a strong identification with mainstream American culture. Fraser et al. also adapted the ethnic identification scale to create a biculturalism scale: The more bicultural an adolescent was, the more he or she identified equally with U.S. culture and the culture of origin.

Raffaelli, Zamboanga and Carlo (44) used a nine-item version of Phinney's multiethnic identity measure, (45) which was validated in a diverse group of high school students and includes such items as "I have a strong sense of belonging to my own ethnic group." A higher score indicates a higher level of ethnic identification, conceptualized as a sense of ethnic group membership and the degree of involvement in one's ethnic group activities. Jones, Kubelka and Bond used a more recent version of the Linguistic Acculturation Scale. Items were adapted to reflect orientation toward Anglo and Mexican culture, and were scored on a five-point scale (from 1=very Mexican-oriented to 5=very assimilated, anglicized). (46)

* Residence. One study used city of residence as a measure of acculturation. (47) In this Arizona study, Sorenson indicated whether respondents lived in a city near Mexico (Nogales) or in one more distant (Tucson). She hypothesized that respondents living in a border city would be in constant contact with their culture of origin and therefore be less acculturated.

* Multiple dimensions. Three studies used multiple dimensions to define a respondent's acculturation status. Jimenez, Potts and Jimenez used language spoken at home and U.S. nativity to develop three categories: "immigrant" (those born outside the United States), "U.S. born and spoke Spanish in the home" and "U.S. born and spoke English in the home." (48) Reynoso, Felice and Shragg asked several questions about language, residency and generation to determine whether female teenagers were "acculturated" or were "recent immigrants." (49) Specifically, they asked whether respondents and their parents were born in the United States, whether respondents were U.S. citizens, whether English was their preferred language and whether they had been U.S. residents for more than five years. Respondents were classified as acculturated if they met three out of five conditions; otherwise, they were classified as recent immigrants. Adapting the 1980 version of the Linguistic Acculturation Scale, Slonim-Nevo created a four-item scale on respondents' self-identity (Mexican, Chicana, Mexican American, Spanish), preferred language, spoken language and mother's spoken language. (50)

Outcomes Studied

The broad categories of outcomes were sexual activity, norms and beliefs, contraceptive use and fertility. Thirteen studies investigated sexual activity outcomes: intention to have vaginal intercourse, (51) sexual initiation, (52) vaginal intercourse in the last 12 months, (53) types of sexual experience, (54) sexual risk, (55) number of partners in the last year and number of lifetime partners, (56) ever had anal intercourse (57) and ever had oral sex. (58)

In general, sexual initiation was defined in these studies by whether respondents had ever had vaginal intercourse. Measures used to assess sexual initiation were age at first intercourse, (59) age at first premarital intercourse (60) and ever had intercourse. (61) One longitudinal study measured the time between first survey and first intercourse. (62) No consistent period of exposure to the risk of sexual initiation was used; for example, Upchurch et al. studied a sample of 12-17-year-olds, while Jimenez, Potts and Jimenez studied 14-19-year-olds.

One study constructed a composite score of sexual experience by assigning a value of one for each of the following: kissing on lips, kissing with mouth open, breast touching, genital touching, oral sex, and vaginal or anal intercourse. (63) Another used a composite score to measure sexual risk, assigning a value of one for each of the following: ever having had voluntary intercourse, having had voluntary intercourse before age 16, having had four or more lifetime sexual partners, having used condoms less than 75% of the time and ever having been forced to have sex. (64)

Two studies investigated only norms and beliefs pertinent to sexual and reproductive health: condom beliefs (65) and expected number of children. (66) A study that examined multiple outcomes looked at attitudes toward sex. (67) A single study investigated only contraceptive use (i.e., whether family planning clinic clients returned within the first year postpartum); (68) two other studies considered sexual activity as well as contraceptive use: condom use (in general and with a partner the respondent knew well) in the last year (69) and ever-use of contraceptives. (70) Finally, two studies looked at fertility outcomes: One examined whether women had ever had an abortion, (71) and the other examined number of pregnancies and sexual activity. (72)

Associations Between Acculturation and Sexual Activity

Of the 13 studies that examined sexual activity, two in particular found no association with several measures of acculturation. (73) Specifically, Ford and Norris found no association between language and number of partners in the last year among either gender, and no relationship between language and having had vaginal intercourse in the last year or ever having had anal intercourse among males. Flores, Tschann and Marin found no association between language and intention to have intercourse among their sample of adolescent females.

Almost all of the studies found a positive association between acculturation and sexual activity. For example, Tschann et al. found a positive relationship between language and sexual experience, while Kaplan, Erickson and Juarez-Reyes found one between language and the number of lifetime sexual partners. (74) Analyses by Ford and Norris revealed positive associations between language and both having had vaginal intercourse in the last year and ever having had anal intercourse among females; they also found a positive association between language and ever having had oral sex among females and males. (75)

The evidence for a positive association between acculturation and sexual activity was strongest for sexual initiation; eight of the 10 studies that examined this outcome reported that greater acculturation was associated with an increased likelihood that youth had initiated sex. (76) Only Fraser et al. and Raffaelli, Zamboanga and Carlo had somewhat contrasting findings, suggesting that greater identification with Latino culture, rather than greater acculturation, was associated with an increased risk of sexual initiation. The latter study found a greater degree of ethnic identification to be associated with an increased likelihood of ever having had intercourse and with greater sexual risk among its sample of female, Cuban American college students. In contrast, Fraser et al. found a greater degree of biculturalism to be associated with having had intercourse among their predominantly Dominican, clinic-based sample. Notably, these two studies had small convenience samples, and were the only ones to use ethnic identification measures and predominantly non-Mexican respondents.

Associations Between Acculturation and Other Outcomes

Two of the three studies that investigated norms and beliefs found an association with acculturation. (77) According to Norris and Ford, Latino teenagers who were more acculturated tended to have more positive condom beliefs. In Sorenson's school-based sample of Arizona Latinas, those whose fathers were born in the United States (vs. Mexico), those who spoke English at home (vs. Spanish) and those who resided in a city farther from Mexico (vs. a border city) reported a lower expected number of children.

The three studies that considered contraceptive use are difficult to compare because of differences in design, outcomes and acculturation measures. (78) Jimenez, Ports and Jimenez did not find an association between either of two measures of acculturation and ever-use of contraceptives. In their Detroit-based study, Ford and Norris found that greater acculturation was associated with an increased likelihood that female (but not male) teenagers reported using a condom in the last year. In contrast, Jones, Kubelka and Bond found that greater acculturation was associated with a decreased likelihood that respondents returned for a family planning visit within a year of giving birth. However, this study used a small sample of pregnant females attending publicly funded clinics; the less acculturated (earlier-generation) respondents may have been disadvantaged, dependent on subsidized services and thus particularly likely to return for a first-year postpartum visit.

Of the two studies that looked at fertility, one found a significant association. (79) In their clinic-based sample of low-income, 14-19-year-old Latinas in Los Angeles, Kaplan, Erickson and Juarez-Reyes found that those who preferred speaking, reading and writing in English had had more pregnancies than those who preferred Spanish. In a larger sample of 14-24-year-old Latinas, Kaplan et al. did not find a relationship between acculturation and ever having had an abortion, possibly because only 7% of respondents reported abortions.

Relative Importance of Acculturation Measures

Studies that simultaneously examine multiple measures of acculturation can identify which measures are the most robust. Six of the 17 studies fit this criterion. Guilamo-Ramos et al. studied the association between sexual initiation and number of years living in the United States, language spoken at home and the interaction of these two variables; years in the United States and the interaction term were the only significant variables in this model. (80) Upchurch et al. studied the relationship between sexual initiation and two measures of acculturation-generation and language of interview. (81) They analyzed generation as a dichotomous variable, distinguishing first-generation from others, because they found no significant differences between second and higher generations. Only language of interview reached significance in their adjusted model. Their interpretation was that generational status influences sexual initiation through teenagers' language preference.

Fraser et al. considered nativity, ethnic identity and biculturalism in their adjusted analysis; only biculturalism significantly predicted ever having had intercourse. (82) Raffaelli, Zamboanga and Carlo analyzed nativity, childhood language, current language and ethnic identity in investigating both sexual initiation and sexual risk. (83) In their adjusted model, only ethnic identity had a significant association with sexual initiation. For sexual risk, however, both nativity and ethnic identity were significant predictors. Jones, Kubelka and Bond included cultural orientation and generation in their model assessing postpartum family planning visits, but only generation was significant. (84) Finally, Jimenez, Potts and Jimenez examined both nativity and language spoken at home in relation to sexual initiation and contraceptive use. (85) Only nativity predicted initiation in their adjusted model; neither measure predicted contraceptive use.

DISCUSSION

Adverse and Protective Associations with Acculturation

Our first research question focused on the relationship between acculturation and sexual and reproductive health among Latino youth. Our finding of both positive and negative associations among the 17 studies reviewed highlights the need for a better understanding of the mechanisms through which acculturation may be operating.

Consistent with the research literature on Latino adults, (86) nearly all 13 studies on sexual activity found that sexual risk-taking increased with greater acculturation. In particular, eight of the 10 studies that considered sexual initiation reported that greater acculturation was associated with an increased risk of initiation or earlier age at first intercourse among Latino youth in the United States. This relationship was observed despite variation in study design and sample characteristics, and persisted even after adjustment for socioeconomic status. However, because these studies investigated sexual initiation over a wide age interval, it is unclear whether acculturation influences the age at which teenagers initiate intercourse. Thus, age-specific studies are needed to elucidate this aspect of sexual behavior.

The remaining two studies on sexual initiation suggested a more complex relationship between acculturation and sexual behavior, showing that greater ethnic identification or biculturalism, rather than greater acculturation, was associated with an increased likelihood of initiation. (87) Because acculturation may involve the balancing of norms from two cultures, by which immigrants can relinquish and retain norms of their culture of origin while adapting to norms of the host culture, these findings do not necessarily conflict with those of the other eight studies. (88) They are consistent with the stress theory: Greater biculturalism, or identification with one's own ethnic culture in the presence of competing norms and values of the dominant culture, can lead to stressful situations, placing adolescents at risk for adverse outcomes, such as early sexual initiation. (89)

The evidence on whether acculturation was associated with fertility was less convincing. Of the two fertility studies reviewed, one found that greater acculturation was associated with a larger number of pregnancies among 14-19-year-old Latinas. (90) This finding was consistent with that of earlier work showing a greater likelihood of premarital birth before age 22 among later generations of Mexican women of low socioeconomic status; (91) however, it should be interpreted with caution, as the data were collected from women attending publicly funded family planning clinics. Furthermore, although these studies suggest that young Latinas who are more acculturated are more likely to get pregnant or give birth than less acculturated Latinas, they do not shed light on acculturation's influence on whether Latina teenagers are delaying childbirth. More precise fertility measures are needed to elucidate the relationship between acculturation and fertility among Latina teenagers.

Evidence supporting acculturation's protective association with sexual and reproductive health outcomes was also inconclusive, as it relied on findings from only three studies. Two studies suggested that the more acculturated the Latino adolescent was, the more likely he or she was to have used condoms in the last year or to have held positive beliefs about condoms. (92) These findings were consistent with results of studies among Latino adults. (93) The third study, by Sorenson, suggested that greater acculturation was associated with an expectation of smaller family size. (94) This was consistent with a Los Angeles-based study that found greater acculturation to be associated with the desire for a smaller number of children among a sample of Mexican American women aged 18-65. (95) Although the three reviewed studies looking at condom use in the last year, condom beliefs and fertility expectations had findings consistent with those of earlier acculturation studies, they were all area- or school-based. Studies using national or regional samples are needed to confirm these findings.

Application of Acculturation Theories

Our second research question asked what theories were employed to explain the possible relationship between acculturation and sexual and reproductive health. A major criticism of the studies reviewed here is their failure to directly test theoretical frameworks that might help explain associations between acculturation and these behaviors and beliefs. For example, do Latina teenagers who are more acculturated place less value on virginity or harmonious family relations? If so, does this shift in values lead to a greater likelihood of sexual initiation? Furthermore, what mechanisms might explain acculturation's adverse association with sexual activity but protective association with contraceptive use and childbearing expectations? Does less emphasis on marianismo and respeto, which might lead to more sexual risk-taking, accompany a more optimistic orientation toward alternative roles to childbearing, which in turn can lead to a greater desire to delay childbearing and motivation to practice contraception?

Studies that examine transformations in cultural values and in beliefs about sex, contraception and childbearing that occur with greater acculturation, and how these transformations relate to sexual behavior, would make a valuable contribution to this field. Future research should emphasize theory-driven empirical analyses that directly investigate the relationships between cultural values and beliefs that are pertinent to sexual and reproductive health, and the influence that these values and beliefs may exert on various behaviors. For example, Upchurch et al. discussed how transformations in values such as simpatia and familism among Latino teenagers are central to their acculturation and the formation of sexual beliefs and behavior. (96) However, they did not directly measure these values, but instead explored the association between the language of interview and sexual initiation. While the preference to interview in English might be indicative of one's acculturation level, it does not explain how one's values and beliefs are changing. A more revealing analysis would focus on how teenagers' support for simpatia or familism changes according to language of interview, and whether such changes explain variation in sexual initiation.

Quality of Measures and Ideal Study Design

Our final research question concerned the range of acculturation measures and which best explained variation in the examined outcomes. We identified 23 measures of acculturation, representing four dimensions--time, language, culture and residence.

Findings from the six studies that simultaneously analyzed multiple measures of acculturation were equivocal about the robustness of the measures. In one study, the language of interview explained greater variation in sexual initiation than generation did. (97) In two studies, time measures explained greater variation than language measures. (98) In another two studies, ethnic identity and biculturalism were more significant in explaining variation in initiation than were time and language measures. (99) In the sixth study, generation explained greater variation in family planning visits than did cultural orientation. (100) These mixed findings highlight the need for more comprehensive studies that separately analyze each dimension of acculturation, test the relative importance of the different dimensions and examine the possible synergy across dimensions.

In addition to examining a measure's ability to explain variation in a particular outcome, future studies should consider a measure's meaning and utility. While measures that reflect an ethnic group's culture--such as language preference, ethnic identity or biculturalism--are possibly more robust, they are also potentially less generalizable. For example, language is a more salient cultural construct among Mexican Americans than among Asian Americans in the United States. (101) Studying ethnic identity as a general concept for all ethnic groups has been questioned because its different components (i.e., religious affiliation, political attitudes) have varying importance in different ethnic groups. (102) Thus, given the cultural and socioeconomic diversity of the Latino population in the United States, generalizability should be a major consideration when choosing measures of acculturation.

Although time measures are not always the most robust, they may be more meaningful and useful than measures of language or ethnic identity. The time measures identified in this review do not have differential meanings across ethnic groups, and thus are generalizable to a variety of populations. Greater exposure to competing values of the host society is expected to diminish the influence of values that are unique to an ethnic culture. (103) Generation, in particular, is more informative than nativity alone, because it allows a sample to be differentiated into first-, second- and third-generation respondents. Nativity provides information only on the country of birth and does not allow for differentiation between second- and third-generation respondents.

Our findings suggest that the presence and nature of associations between acculturation and sexual and reproductive health are likely to vary by country of origin, gender and acculturation measure. An ideal study would be larger, representative and population-based, would stratify analyses by gender and country of origin (or limit the sample to a single Latino ethnic group), and would include a time measure of acculturation and at least one measure from another dimension. The inclusion of youth from various socioeconomic backgrounds would further strengthen the design. Finally, longitudinal studies that follow multiple generations of immigrants would allow, researchers to examine the temporal influences of acculturation on norms, beliefs and behaviors.

None of the studies reviewed fits these ideal criteria, yet several made noteworthy contributions to the literature. The study by Ford and Norris was area-based and analyzed males and females separately, finding differential associations of acculturation with having had vaginal intercourse in the last year and with ever having had anal intercourse. (104) However, it did not analyze Mexicans and Puerto Ricans separately (possibly because of limited sample size), and analyzed only one acculturation measure--language. The Upchurch et al. study also used an area-based sample, and it analyzed generation and language of interview; however, it did not analyze males and females separately. (105) Guilamo-Ramos et al. used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health and analyzed time and language measures of acculturation; they did not separately analyze males and females, or ethnic groups. (106) Sorenson included time and residence measures of acculturation, sampled teenagers of Mexican origin, and analyzed males and females separately; yet her study was school-based, and may have underrepresented teenagers who had dropped out, perhaps because they were pregnant. (107) Finally, the study by Raffaelli, Zamboanga and Carlo is noteworthy, even with its small convenience sample of university students, because they were exclusively Cuban and female, and the analysis included both time and cultural measures of acculturation. (108)

CONCLUSIONS

Research on the relationship between acculturation and sexual and reproductive health among Latino youth remains in its infancy. In the future, priority should be given to empirical studies that explicitly investigate links between time measures of acculturation, changing beliefs and norms, and sexual and reproductive behaviors, particularly contraceptive use and fertility desires. Such research can build on existing theories that elucidate the role of beliefs and norms pertaining to gender expectations, family formation, contraceptive use and sexual behavior that are unique to Latino culture. The findings would provide policymakers, planners and providers with greater insights into designing programmatic interventions that target diverse Latino populations.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Jeanne Tschann and the postdoctoral fellow writing group at the Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, for their careful review of early versions of this article. They also thank Sarah Schwartz for her invaluable research assistance, and the Adolescent Reproductive Health Team, Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for their role in initiating this review. Funding for this work came from the CDC/Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine cooperative agreement T5-0842. The conclusions and opinions expressed here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the funder.

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(9.) Sabogal F et al., Gender, ethnic, and acculturation differences in sexual behaviors: Hispanic and non-Hispanic white adults, Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 1995, 17(2): 139-159.

(10.) Newcomb MD et al., Acculturation, sexual risk-taking, and HIV health promotion among Latinas, Journal of Counseling Psychology, 1998, 45(4):454-467.

(11.) Marin BV et al., Acculturation and gender differences in sexual attitudes and behaviors: Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic white unmarried adults, American Journal of Public Health, 1993, 83(12):1759-1761; Romo LF, Berenson AB and Segars A, Sociocuhural and religious influences on the normative contraceptive practices of Latino women in the United States, Contraception, 2004, 69(3):219-225; and Sabogal F et al., 1995, op. cit. (see reference 9).

(12.) Driscoll AK et al., Adolescent Latino reproductive health: a review of literature, Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 2001, 23(3): 255-326.

(13.) Guilamo-Ramos Vet al., Acculturation-related variables, sexual initiation, and subsequent sexual behavior among Puerto Rican, Mexican, and Cuban youth, Health Psychology, 2005, 24(1):88-95.

(14.) Upchurch DM et al., Sociocultural contexts of time to first sex among Hispanic adolescents, Journal of Marriage and Family, 2001, 63(4): 1158-1169; Ford K and Norris AE, Urban Hispanic adolescents and young adults: relationship of acculturation to sexual behavior, Journal of Sex Research, 1993, 30(4):316-323; Norris AE and Ford K, Condom beliefs in urban, low income, African American and Hispanic youth, Health Education Quarterly, 1994, 21(1):39 53; and Slonim-Nevo V, First premarital intercourse among Mexican-American adolescent women: interpreting ethnic differences, Journal of Adolescent Research, 1992, 7(3):332-351.

(15.) Adam Bet al., Acculturation as a predictor of the onset of sexual intercourse among Hispanic and white teens, Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 2005, 159(3):261-265; and Sorenson AM, Fertility expectations and ethnic identity among Mexican-American adolescents: an expression of cultural ideals, Sociological Perspectives, 1985, 28(3):339-360.

(16.) Ebin VJ et al., Acculturation and interrelationships between problem and health-promoting behaviors among Latino adolescents, Journal of Adolescent Health, 2001, 28(1):62-72; Fraser D et al., Effects of acculturation and psychopathology on sexual behavior and substance use of suicidal Hispanic adolescents, Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 1998, 20(1):83-101; Tschann JM et al., Inter-parental conflict and risk behaviors among Mexican American adolescents: a cognitive-emotional model, Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 2002, 30(4):373-385; Kaplan CP et al., Young Latinas and abortion: the role of cultural factors, reproductive behavior, and alternative roles to motherhood, Health Care for Women International, 2001, 22(7):667-689; Kaplan CP, Erickson PI and Juarez-Reyes M, Acculturation, gender role orientation, and reproductive risk-taking behavior among Latina adolescent family planning clients, Journal of Adolescent Research, 2002, 17(2):103-121; Reynoso T, Felice M and Shragg P, Does American acculturation affect outcome of Mexican-American teenage pregnancy? Journal of Adolescent Health, 1993, 14(4):257-261; and Jones ME, Kubelka S and Bond ML, Acculturation status, birth outcomes, and family planning compliance among Hispanic teens, Journal of School Nursing, 2001, 17(2):83-89.

(17.) Jimenez J, Potts MK and Jimenez D, Reproductive attitudes and behavior among Latina adolescents, Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 2002, 11(3/4):221-249; Raffaelli M, Zamboanga BL and Carlo G, Acculturation status and sexuality among female Cuban American college students, Journal of American College Health, 2005, 54(1):7-13; and Flores E, Tschann JM and Marin BV, Latina adolescents: predicting intentions to have sex, Adolescence, 2002, 37 (148): 659-679.

(18.) Tschann JM et al., 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16); and Upchurch DM et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(19.) Raffaelli M, Zamboanga BL and Carlo G, 2005, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(20.) Adam Bet al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 15).

(21.) Sorenson AM, 1985, op. cit. (see reference 15); Slonim-Nevo V, 1992, op. cit. (see reference 14); Reynoso T, Felice M and Shragg P, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 16); Flores E, Tschann JM and Marin BV, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17); Tschann JM et al., 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16); Adam Bet al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 15);Jones ME, Kubelka S and Bond ML, 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16); Kaplan CP et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16); Kaplan CP, Erickson PI and Juarez-Reyes M, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16); Guilamo-Ramos Vet al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 13); Upchurch DM et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 14); Ford K and Norris AE, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 14); Norris AE and Ford K, 1994, op. cit. (see reference 14); and Jimenez J, Ports MK and Jimenez D, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(22.) Fraser D et al., 1998, op. cit. (see reference 16); and Raffaelli M, Zamboanga BL and Carlo G, 2005, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(23.) Adam Bet al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 15); Guilamo-Ramos V et al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 13); Tschann JM et al., 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16); Ebin VJ et al., 2001, op cit. (see reference 16); Fraser D et al., 1998, op. cit. (see reference 16): Norris AE and Ford K, 1994. op. cit. (see reference 14); Ford K and Norris AE, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 14); Reynoso T, Felice M and Shragg P, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 16); Kaplan CP, Erickson Pi and Juarez-Reyes M, 2002, op. cit (see reference 16); Kaplan CP et al, 2001, op. cit. (see reference 161: Raffaelli M, Zamboanga BL and Carlo G. 2005, op. cit. (see reference 17); Flores E, Tschann JM and Marin BV, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17); and Jones ME, Kubelka S and Bond ML, 2001, op. cit (see reference 16).

(24.) Guilamo-Ramos V et al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 13); and Raffaelli M, Zamboanga BL and Carlo G, 2005, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(25.) Fraser D et al., 1998, op. cit. (see reference 16); Reynoso T. Felice M and Shragg P, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 16); Kaplan CP et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16); Kaplan CP, Erickson PI and Juarez-Reyes M, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16); Jimenez J, Potts MK and Jimenez D, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17): Slonim-Nevo V, 1992, op. cit. (see reference 14): Raffaelli M, Zamboanga BL and Carlo G, 2005, op. cit. (see reference 17); Flores E, Tschann JM and Marin BV 2002, op. cit (see reference 17); and Jones ME, Kubelka S and Bond ML, 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16)

(26.) Sorenson AM, 1985, op. cit. (see reference 15); and Ford K and Norris AE, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(27.) Adam Bet al., 2005, op cit. (see reference 15); Guilamo-Ramos V et al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 13); Tschann JM et al., 2002, op. cit (see reference 16); Ebin VJ et al., 2001, op cit. (see reference 16): Upchurch DM et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 14): and Norris AE and Ford K, 1994, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(28.) Ebin VJ et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16); and Reynoso T. Felice M and Shragg R 1993, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(29.) Adam B et al., 2005, op. cit (see reference 15).

(30.) Guilamo-Ramos V et al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 13); Ebin VJ et al, 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16); Fraser D et al., 1998, op. cit. (see reference 16); and Reynoso T, Felice M and Shragg R 1993, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(31.) Upchurch DM et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 14); Norris AE and Ford K, 1994, op. cit. (see reference 14); Kaplan CP et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16): Sorenson AM, 1985, op. cit. (see reference 15); Jimenez J, Ports MK and Jimenez D, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17); Kaplan CP, Erickson PI and Juarez-Reyes M, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16); Ford K and Norris AE, 1993, op cit. (see reference 14); Slonim-Nevo V, 1992, op. cit. (see reference 14); Raffaelli M, Zamboanga BL and Carlo G, 2005, op. cit. (see reference 17); Flores E, Tschann JM and Marin BV, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17); Jones ME, Kubelka S and Bond ML, 2001, op. cit (see reference 16); and Tschann JM et al., 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(32.) Upchurch DM et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(33.) Tschann. JM et al., 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(34.) Upchurch DM et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(35.) Guilamo-Ramos V et, al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 13); Ebin VJ et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16); Upchurch DM et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 14); Fraser D et al., 1998, op. cit. (see reference 16): Sorenson AM, 1985, op. cit. (see reference 15); Jimenez J, Potts MK and Jimenez D, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17); Raffaelli M, Zamboanga BL and Carlo G, 2005, op cit. (see reference 17); and Jones ME, Kubelka S and Bond ML, 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(36.) Marin G et al., Development of a short acculturation scale for Hispanics, Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 1987, 9(2): 183-205: and Cuellar I, Harris LC and Jasso R, An acculturation scale for Mexican-American normal and clinical populations, Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 1980, 2(3): 199-217.

(37.) Tschann JM et al., 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16); Norris AE and Ford K, 1994, op. cit. (see reference 14); Ford K and Norris AE. 1993, op. cit. (see reference 14); and Flores E, Tschann JM and Marin BV, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(38.) Marin G et al., 1987, op. cit. (see reference 36)

(39.) Kaplan CP et al., 2001, op. cit (see reference 16); Kaplan CP, Erickson PI and Juarez-Reyes M, 2002, op. cit., (see reference 16); and Cuellar I, Harris LC and Jasso R, 1980, op. cit. (see reference 36).

(40.) Tschann JM et al., 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(41.) Szapocznik J, Kurtines W and Fernandez T, Bicultural involvement and adjustment in Hispanic-American youths, International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 1980, 4(3/4):353-365; and Szapocznik J and Kurtines W, Acculturation, biculturalism and adjustment among Cuban-Americans, in: Padilla AM, 1980, op. cit., (see reference 7), pp. 139-159.

(42.) Fraser D et al., 1998, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(43.) Padilla AM, The role of cultural awareness and ethnic loyalty in acculturation, in: Padilla AM, 1980, op. cit. (see reference 7), pp. 47 84.

(44.) Raffaelli M, Zamboanga BL and Carlo G, 2005, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(45.) Phinney JS, The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure: a new scale for use with diverse groups, Journal of Adolescent, Research, 1992, 7(2): 156-176.

(46.) Jones ME, Kubelka S and Bond ML, 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16); and Cuellar 1, Arnold B and Maldonado R, Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans II: a revision of the original ARSMA scale, Hispanic journal of Behavioral Sciences, 1995, 17(3):275-304.

(47.) Sorenson AM, 1985, op. cit. (see reference 15).

(48.) Jimenez J, Ports MK and Jimenez D, 2002, op. cit (see reference 17).

(49.) Reynoso T, Felice M and Shragg P, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(50.) Slonim-Nevo V, 1992, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(51.) Flores E, Tschann JM and Marin BV, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(52.) Adam B et al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 15): Guilamo-Ramos V et al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 13); Ebin VJ et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16); Upchurch DM et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 14); Fraser D et al., 1998, op. cit. (see reference 16); Reynoso T, Felice M and Shragg P, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 16); Jimenez J, Potts MK and Jimenez D, 2002, op. cit (see reference 17); Kaplan CP, Erickson PI and Juarez-Reyes M, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16); and Slonim-Nevo V, 1992, op cit. (see reference 14).

(53.) Ford K and Norris AE, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(54.) Tschann JM et al., 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(55.) Raffaelli M, Zamboanga BL and Carlo G, 2005, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(56.) Ford K and Norris AE, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 14); and Kaplan CP, Erickson PI and Juarez-Reyes M, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(57.) Ford K and Norris AE, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(58.) Ibid

(59.) Reynoso T, Felice M and Shragg R 1993, op cit. (see reference 16); and Kaplan CR Erickson PI and Juarez-Reyes M, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(60.) Slonim-Nevo V, 1992, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(61.) Adam Bet al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 15): Ebin VJ et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16); Fraser D et, al., 1998, op. cit. (see reference 16); Jimenez J, Potts MK and Jimenez D, 2002, op cit. (see reference 17); and Tschann JM et al., 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(62.) Upchurch DM et al, 2001, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(63.) Tschann JM et al., 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(64.) Raffaelli M, Zamboanga BL and Carlo G, 2005, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(65.) Norris AE and Ford K, 1994, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(66.) Sorenson AM, 1985, op. cit. (see reference 15).

(67.) Jimenez J, Ports MK and Jimenez D, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(68.) Jones ME, Kubelka S and Bond ML, 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(69.) Ford K and Norris AE, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(70.) Jimenez J, Potts MK and Jimenez D, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(71.) Kaplan CP et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(72.) Kaplan CP, Erickson PI and Juarez-Reyes M, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(73.) Ford K and Norris AE, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 14); and Flores E, Tschann JM and Marin BV, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(74.) Tschann JM et al., 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16); and Kaplan CP, Erickson PI and Juarez-Reyes M, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(75.) Ford K and Norris AE, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(76.) Adam B et al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 15); Guilamo-Ramos V et al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 13); Ebin VJ et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16); Upchurch DM et al, 2001, op. cit. (see reference 14); Reynoso T, Felice M and Shragg P, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 16); Jimenez J, Potts MK and Jimenez D, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17); Kaplan CR Erickson PI and Juarez-Reyes M, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16); and Slonim-Nevo V, 1992, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(77.) Norris AE and Ford K, 1994, op. cit. (see reference 14); Jimenez J, Potts MK and Jimenez D, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17); and Sorenson AM, 1985, op. cit. (see reference 15).

(78.) Ford K and Norris AE, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 14); Jimenez J, Ports MK and Jimenez D, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17); and Jones ME, Kubelka S and Bond ME, 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(79.) Kaplan CP et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16); and Kaplan CP, Erickson PI and Juarez-Reyes M, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(80.) Guilamo-Ramos Vet al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 13).

(81.) Upchurch DM et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(82.) Fraser D et al., 1998, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(83.) Raffaelli M, Zamboanga BL and Carlo G, 2005, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(84.) Jones ME, Kubelka S and Bond ML, 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(85.) Jimenez J, Potts MK and Jimenez D, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(86.) Sabogal F et al., 1995, op. cit. (see reference 9); and Newcomb MD et al., 1998, op. cit. (see reference 10).

(87.) Fraser D et al., 1998, op. cit. (see reference 16); and Raffaelli M, Zamboanga BL and Carlo G, 2005, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(88.) Szapocznik J and Kurtines W, 1980, op. cit. (see reference 41).

(89.) Guilamo-Ramos V et al, 2005, op. cit. (see reference 13); Ebin VJ et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16); Fraser D et al, 1998, op. cit. (see reference 16); and Reynoso T, Felice M and Shragg P, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(90.) Kaplan CP, Erickson PI and Juarez-Reyes M, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(91.) Darabi KF and Ortiz V, 1987, op. cit. (see reference 5).

(92.) Ford K and Norris AE, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 14); and Norris AE and Ford K, 1994, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(93.) Sabogal F et al., 1995, op. cit. (see reference 9); Marin BV et al., 1993, op. cit. (see reference 11); and Romo LF, Berenson AB and Segars A, 2004, op. cit. (see reference 11).

(94.) Sorenson AM, 1985, op. cit. (see reference 15).

(95.) Amaro H, Women in the Mexican-American community: religion, culture, and reproductive attitudes and experiences, Journal of Community Psychology, 1988, 16(1):6-20.

(96.) Upchurch DM et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(97.) Ibid.

(98.) Guilamo-Ramos Vet al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 13); and Jimenez J, Potts MK and Jimenez D, 2002, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(99.) Fraser D et al., 1998, op. cit. (see reference 16); and Raffaelli M, Zamboanga BL and Carlo G, 2005, op. cit. (see reference 17).

(100.) Jones ME, Kubelka S and Bond ML, 2001, op. cit. (see reference 16).

(101.) Phinney JS, 1992, op. cit. (see reference 44).

(102.) Ibid.

(103.) Bean FD and Swicegood G, Generation, female education, and Mexican-American fertility, Social Science Quarterly, 1982, 63(1): 131-144; and Perez W and Padilla AM, Cultural orientation across three generations of Hispanic adolescents, Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 2000, 22(3):390-398.

(104.) Ford K and Norris AE, 1993, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(105.) Upchurch DM et al., 2001, op. cit. (see reference 14).

(106.) Guilamo-Ramos V et al., 2005, op. cit. (see reference 13).

(107.) Sorenson AM, 1985, op. cit. (see reference 15).

(108.) Raffaelli M, Zamboanga BL and Carlo G, 2005, op. cit. (see reference 17).

Author contact: [e-mail]

By Aimee Afable-Munsuz and Claire D. Brindis

Aimee Afable-Munsuz is a postdoctoral fellow, and Claire D. Brindis is professor of pediatrics and health policy and associate director, both at the Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco.

TABLE 1. Selected characteristics of studies of acculturation and the
sexual and reproductive health of Latino youth in the United States,
by type of outcome studied, 1985-2005

Outcome and                Sample
study

Sexual activity
Adam et al., 2005 (15)     N=7,270 females and males; ages
                           12-18; Mexican and white; 48%
                           received public assistance

Ebin et al., 2001 (16)     N=609 females and males; ages
                           11-19; country of origin not
                           specified; low-income

Flores,                    N=84 females; ages 14-19;
Tschann and                Mexican and Central American;
Marin, 2002 (17)           parents had average of 8 yrs.
                           of schooling

Fraser et al.,             N=116 suicidal females; ages
1998 (16)                  12-18; 70% Dominican, 16%
                           Puerto Rican, 14% Central or
                           South American; low-income

Guilamo-Ramos              N=2,035 females and males;
et al., 2005 (13)          grades 7-11; 63% Mexican, 20%
                           Puerto Rican, 17% Cuban; about
                           20% received public assistance

Raffaelli,                 N=61 females; ages 17-23;
Zamboanga and              Cuban American
Carlo, 2005 (17)

Reynoso, Felice and        N=116 postpartum females; ages
Shragg, 1993 (16)          12-18; Mexican; 88% received
                           public assistance

Slonim-Nevo,               N=988 never-married females; ages
1992 (14)                  13-19; 68% Mexican American,
                           32% white

Tschann et al.,            N=141 females and males; ages 12-
2002 (16)                  14; Mexican; parents had average
                           of 8 yrs. of schooling

Upchurch et al.,           N=497 females and males; ages 12-
2001 (14)                  17; 75% Mexican; 62% lived with
                           both biological parents

Norms and beliefs
Norris and Ford,           N=1,042 females and males; ages
1994 (14)                  14-24; 54% black, 46% Latino (73%
                           Mexican); 41% of mothers had
                           [less than or equal to] 8yrs. of
                           schooling; low-income

Sorenson, 1985 (15)        N=1,955 females and males;
                           Mexican American and white youth

Contraceptive use
Jones, Kubelka and         N=63 pregnant females; ages
Bond, 2001 (16)            13-19; Mexican; low-income

Fertility
Kaplan et al.,             N=1,307 females; ages 14-24,
2001 (16)                  predominantly Mexican;
                           low-income

Multiple outcomes
Ford and Norris,           N=711 females and males;
1993 (14)                  ages 14-24; 73% Mexican,
                           23% Puerto Rican; parents had
                           average of 8 yrs. of schooling;
                           low-income

Jimenez, Potts and         N=290 females, ages 14-19;
Jimenez, 2002 (17)         predominantly Mexican

Kaplan, Erickson           N=670 females; ages 14-19; 54%
and Juarez-Reyes,          Mexican, 30% Central American;
2002 (16)                  33% low-income

Outcome and                Primary outcome
study

Sexual activity
Adam et al., 2005 (15)     Ever had intercourse

Ebin et al., 2001 (16)     Ever had intercourse

Flores,                    Intention to have
Tschann and                intercourse
Marin, 2002 (17)

Fraser et al.,             Ever had intercourse
1998 (16)

Guilamo-Ramos              Ever had intercourse
et al., 2005 (13)

Raffaelli,                 Ever had voluntary
Zamboanga and              intercourse, sexual risk
Carlo, 2005 (17)

Reynoso, Felice and        Age at first intercourse
Shragg, 1993 (16)

Slonim-Nevo,               Age at first premarital
1992 (14)                  intercourse

Tschann et al.,            Sexual experience
2002 (16)

Upchurch et al.,           Time to first intercourse
2001 (14)

Norms and beliefs
Norris and Ford,           Condom beliefs
1994 (14)

Sorenson, 1985 (15)        Expected parity

Contraceptive use
Jones, Kubelka and         Family planning visit
Bond, 2001 (16)            [less than or equal to] 1 yr.
                           postpartum

Fertility
Kaplan et al.,             Ever had abortion
2001 (16)

Multiple outcomes
Ford and Norris,           Intercourse in last year,
1993 (14)                  ever had anal inter-
                           course, ever had oral
                           sex, no. and type
                           of partners in last year,
                           condom use in last year

Jimenez, Potts and         Ever had intercourse,
Jimenez, 2002 (17)         ever used contraceptive,
                           attitudes toward sex

Kaplan, Erickson           Age at first intercourse,
and Juarez-Reyes,          no. of lifetime partners,
2002 (16)                  no. of pregnancies

Outcome and                Acculturation theory
study                      and measures

Sexual activity
Adam et al., 2005 (15)     No discussion;
                           measured language

Ebin et al., 2001 (16)     Stress theory;
                           measured nativity,
                           language

Flores,                    Cultural norms theory;
Tschann and                measured language
Marin, 2002 (17)

Fraser et al.,             Stress theory;
1998 (16)                  measured nativity,
                           ethnic identity,
                           biculturalism

Guilamo-Ramos              Stress theory;
et al., 2005 (13)          measured no. of yrs.
                           living in United States,
                           language

Raffaelli,                 Cultural norms theory;
Zamboanga and              measured nativity,
Carlo, 2005 (17)           language, ethnic
                           identity

Reynoso, Felice and        Stress theory;
Shragg, 1993 (16)          measured language,
                           residence, citizenship

Slonim-Nevo,               Cultural norms theory;
1992 (14)                  measured language,
                           self-identity

Tschann et al.,            Cultural norms theory;
2002 (16)                  measured language,
                           cultural enjoyment

Upchurch et al.,           Cultural norms theory;
2001 (14)                  measured generation,
                           language

Norms and beliefs
Norris and Ford,           Cultural norms theory;
1994 (14)                  measured language

Sorenson, 1985 (15)        Cultural norms theory;
                           measured nativity,
                           language, residence

Contraceptive use
Jones, Kubelka and         Cultural norms theory;
Bond, 2001 (16)            measured generation,
                           cultural orientation

Fertility
Kaplan et al.,             Cultural norms theory;
2001 (16)                  measured language

Multiple outcomes
Ford and Norris,           Cultural norms theory;
1993 (14)                  measured language

Jimenez,Potts and          Cultural norms theory;
Jimenez, 2002 (17)         measured nativity,
                           language

Kaplan, Erickson           Cultural norms theory;
and Juarez-Reyes,          measured language
2002 (16)

Outcome and                Adjustment variables
study

Sexual activity
Adam et al., 2005 (15)     Age, gender, family structure,
                           religiosity, rural residence,
                           public assistance

Ebin et al., 2001 (16)     None

Flores,                    Sexual experience,
Tschann and                dating
Marin, 2002 (17)

Fraser et al.,             Age, substance use,
1998 (16)                  psychopathology

Guilamo-Ramos              Ethnicity, gender, grade,
et al., 2005 (13)          mother's education,
                           religiosity

Raffaelli,                 Age, parents' education,
Zamboanga and              religiosity
Carlo, 2005 (17)

Reynoso, Felice and        None
Shragg, 1993 (16)

Slonim-Nevo,               Socioeconomic status,
1992 (14)                  mother's education,
                           perceived parental control,
                           religiosity, attitudes toward
                           premarital sex, perceived
                           age at which average girl
                           is ready for sex

Tschann et al.,            Emotional distress
2002 (16)

Upchurch et al.,           Ethnicity, gender, single-
2001 (14)                  parent household, parent-
                           teenager relationship and
                           interaction, neighborhood
                           Latino composition,
                           neighborhood ambient
                           hazard *

Norms and beliefs
Norris and Ford,           Age, gender, marital status,
1994 (14)                  religion, ethnicity, education

Sorenson, 1985 (15)        No. of siblings in the
                           home, gender

Contraceptive use
Jones, Kubelka and         Age, marital status, ordinal
Bond, 2001 (16)            no. of the pregnancy, no. of
                           prenatal visits, gestational
                           age of fetus, prenatal care

Fertility
Kaplan et al.,             Age, education, marital
2001 (16)                  status, nativity

Multiple outcomes
Ford and Norris,           Ethnicity, age, marital status,
1993 (14)                  interview language, no. of
                           yrs. living in United States,
                           parents' education

Jimenez, Potts and         Age, attitudes toward sex,
Jimenez, 2002 (17)         parents' educational
                           aspirations for children,
                           respondents' educational
                           aspirations

Kaplan, Erickson           Age, education, school
and Juarez-Reyes,          attendance, married or
2002 (16)                  living with partner, income,
                           risk-proneness, substance
                           experimentation

Outcome and                Setting and design
study

Sexual activity
Adam et al., 2005 (15)     Arizona; school-based; cross-
                           sectional; no separate
                           gender analyses

Ebin et al., 2001 (16)     Los Angeles; public clinic-
                           based; cross-sectional; no
                           separate gender analyses

Flores,                    California and Texas; call-back
Tschann and                sample of population-and
Marin, 2002 (17)           clinic-based sample;
                           cross-sectional

Fraser et al.,             New York City; university
1998 (16)                  clinic-based; cross-sectional

Guilamo-Ramos              National Longitudinal Stud Y
et al., 2005 (13)          of Adolescent Health; cross-
                           sectional (Wave 1 data); no
                           separate gender analyses

Raffaelli,                 South Florida; university-
Zamboanga and              based; cross-sectional
Carlo, 2005 (17)

Reynoso, Felice and        San Diego; university clinic-
Shragg, 1993 (16)          based; cross-sectional

Slonim-Nevo,               Los Angeles; area probability
1992 (14)                  sample; cross-sectional

Tschann et al.,            Northern California; HMO
2002 (16)                  clinic-based; longitudinal; no
                           separate gender analyses

Upchurch et al.,           Los Angeles; area
2001 (14)                  probability sample;
                           longitudinal; no
                           separate gender
                           analyses

Norms and beliefs
Norris and Ford,           Detroit; area probability
1994 (14)                  sample; cross-sectional; no
                           separate gender analyses

Sorenson, 1985 (15)        Tucson and Nogales, AZ;
                           school-based; cross-sectional;
                           separate gender analyses

Contraceptive use
Jones, Kubelka and         Southwestern United States;
Bond, 2001 (16)            public clinic-based;
                           cross-sectional

Fertility
Kaplan et al.,             Los Angeles; public clinic-
2001 (16)                  based; cross-sectional

Multiple outcomes
Ford and Norris,           Detroit; area probability
1993 (14)                  sample; cross-sectional;
                           separate gender analyses

Jimenez, Potts and         Los Angeles; evaluation of
Jimenez, 2002 (17)         adolescent pregnancy
                           program in schools,
                           clinics and community
                           organizations; cross-sectional

Kaplan, Erickson           Los Angeles; public clinic-
and Juarez-Reyes,          based; cross-sectional
2002 (16)

* Ambient hazard indicates level of perceived social disorder, personal
threat and deterioration of the neighborhood. Note: Superscript numbers
refer to the reference list, page 217.

TABLE 2. Findings on associations between acculturation and the sexual
and reproductive health of Latino youth, by dimension and measures of
acculturation studied, according to type of outcome

Dimension and
measure              Study                     Sexual activity

Time
Nativity             Ebin et a1., 2001 (16)    Sexual initiation (+)
                     Fraser et al., 1998 (16)  Sexual initiation (0) *
                     Jimenez, Potts            Sexual initiation (+)
                     and Jimenez, 2002 (17)
                     Raffaelli, Zamboanga      Sexual initiation (0) *
                     and Carlo, 2005 (17)      Sexual risk (+)

Father's nativity    Sorenson, 1985 (15)

Mother's nativity    Sorenson, 1985 (15)

Generation           Jones, Kubelka
                     and Bond, 2001 (16)

                     Upchurch et al.,          Sexual initiation (0) *
                     2001 (14)

No. of yrs. living   Guilamo-Ramos et al.,     Sexual initiation (+)
in the United        2005 (13)
States

Language
Short Acculturation  Flores, Tschann           Intention to have
Scale                and Marin, 2002 (17)      intercourse (0)

                     Ford and Norris,          Intercourse in last
                     1993 (14)                 year (+) ([dagger])
                                               Ever had anal
                                               intercourse
                                               (+) ([dagger])
                                               Ever had oral sex (+)
                                               No. of partners in last
                                               year (0)

                     Norris and Ford,
                     1994 (14)

                     Tschann et al.,           Sexual experience
                     2002 (16)                 (+) ([double dagger])

Linguistic           Kaplan, Erickson          Sexual initiation (+)
Acculturation Scale  and Juarez-Reyes,         No. of lifetime
                     2002 (16)                 partners (+)

                     Kaplan et al.,
                     2001 (16)

Language spoken at   Guilamo-Ramos et al.,     Sexual initiation
home                 2005 (13)                 (+) ([section])

                     Jimenez, Potts            Sexual initiation (0) *
                     and Jimenez, 2002 (17)

                     Sorenson, 1985 (15)

Primary language     Adam et al., 2005 (15)    Sexual initiation (+)
spoken               Ebin et al., 2001 (16)    Sexual initiation (0)

Childhood language   Raffaelli, Zamboanga      Sexual initiation (0) *
                     and Carlo, 2005 (17)      Sexual risk (0) *

Current language     Raffaelli, Zamboanga      Sexual initiation (0) *
                     and Carlo, 2005 (17)      Sexual risk (0) *

Language of          Upchurch et al.,          Sexual initiation (+)
interview            2001 (14)

Language spoken      Sorenson, 1985 (15)
with friends

Culture
Latino cultural      Tschann et al.,           Sexual experience (0)
enjoyment            2002 (16)

American cultural    Tschann et al.,           Sexual experience (0)
enjoyment            2002 (16)

Padilla's ethnic     Fraser et al.,            Sexual initiation (0) *
identity             1998 (16)

Biculturalism        Fraser et al.,            Sexual initiation (-) **
                     1998 (16)

Phinney's ethnic     Raffaelli, Zamboanga      Sexual initiation
identity             and Carlo, 2005 (17)      (-) ([dagger][dagger])
                                               Sexual risk
                                               (-) ([dagger][dagger])

Cultural             Jones, Kubelka
orientation          and Bond, 2001 (16)

Residence
City of residence    Sorenson, 1985 (15)

Multiple dimensions
Language and         Jimenez, Potts
residence            and Jimenez, 2002 (17)

Language, residence  Reynoso, Felice           Sexual initiation (+)
and citizenship      and Shragg, 1993 (16)

Language and         Slonim-Nevo, 1992 (14)    Sexual initiation (+)
self-identity

Dimension and        Study                     Norms and
measure                                        beliefs

Time
Nativity             Ebin et a1., 2001 (16)
                     Fraser et al., 1998 (16)
                     Jimenez, Potts
                     and Jimenez, 2002 (17)
                     Raffaelli, Zamboanga
                     and Carlo, 2005 (17)

Father's nativity    Sorenson, 1985 (15)       Expected parity (-)

Mother's nativity    Sorenson, 1985 (15)       Expected parity (0)

Generation           Jones, Kubelka
                     and Bond, 2001 (16)

                     Upchurch et al.,
                     2001 (14)

No. of yrs. living   Guilamo-Ramos et al.,
in the United        2005 (13)
States

Language
Short Acculturation  Flores, Tschann
Scale                and Marin, 2002 (17)

                     Ford and Norris,
                     1993 (14)

                     Norris and Ford,          Condom beliefs (+)
                     1994 (14)

                     Tschann et al.,
                     2002 (16)

Linguistic           Kaplan, Erickson
Acculturation Scale  and Juarez-Reyes,
                     2002 (16)

                     Kaplan et al.,
                     2001 (16)

Language spoken at   Guilamo-Ramos et al.,
home                 2005 (13)

                     Jimenez, Potts
                     and Jimenez, 2002 (17)

                     Sorenson, 1985 (15)       Expected parity (-)

Primary language     Adam et al., 2005 (15)
spoken               Ebin et al., 2001 (16)

Childhood language   Raffaelli, Zamboanga
                     and Carlo, 2005 (17)

Current language     Raffaelli, Zamboanga
                     and Carlo, 2005 (17)

Language of          Upchurch et al.,
interview            2001 (14)

Language spoken      Sorenson, 1985 (15)       Expected parity (0)
with friends

Culture
Latino cultural      Tschann et al.,
enjoyment            2002 (16)

American cultural    Tschann et al.,
enjoyment            2002 (16)

Padilla's ethnic     Fraser et al.,
identity             1998 (16)

Biculturalism        Fraser et al.,
                     1998 (16)

Phinney's ethnic     Raffaelli, Zamboanga
identity             and Carlo, 2005 (17)

Cultural             Jones, Kubelka
orientation          and Bond, 2001 (16)

Residence
City of residence    Sorenson, 1985 (15)       Expected parity (-)

Multiple dimensions
Language and         Jimenez, Potts
residence            and Jimenez, 2002 (17)    Attitudes toward sex (0)

Language, residence  Reynoso, Felice
and citizenship      and Shragg, 1993 (16)

Language and         Slonim-Nevo, 1992 (14)
self-identity

Dimension and        Study                     Contraceptive
measure                                        use or fertility

Time
Nativity             Ebin et a1., 2001 (16)
                     Fraser et al., 1998 (16)
                     Jimenez, Potts            Ever used contra-
                     and Jimenez, 2002 (17)    ceptive (0)
                     Raffaelli, Zamboanga
                     and Carlo, 2005 (17)

Father's nativity    Sorenson, 1985 (15)

Mother's nativity    Sorenson, 1985 (15)

Generation           Jones, Kubelka            Family planning visit
                     and Bond, 2001 (16)       [less than or equal
                                               to] 1 yr. postpartum(-)

                     Upchurch et al.,
                     2001 (14)

No. of yrs. living   Guilamo-Ramos et al.,
in the United        2005 (13)
States

Language
Short Acculturation  Flores, Tschann
Scale                and Marin, 2002 (17)

                     Ford and Norris,          Condom use in last
                     1993 (14)                 year (+) ([dagger])

                     Norris and Ford,
                     1994 (14)

                     Tschann et al.,
                     2002 (16)

Linguistic           Kaplan, Erickson          No. of pregnancies (+)
Acculturation Scale  and Juarez-Reyes,
                     2002 (16)

                     Kaplan et al.,            Ever had abortion (0)
                     2001 (16)

Language spoken at   Guilamo-Ramos et al.,
home                 2005 (13)

                     Jimenez, Potts            Ever used contra-
                     and Jimenez, 2002 (17)    ceptive (0)

                     Sorenson, 1985 (15)

Primary language     Adam et al., 2005 (15)
spoken               Ebin et al., 2001 (16)

Childhood language   Raffaelli, Zamboanga
                     and Carlo, 2005 (17)

Current language     Raffaelli, Zamboanga
                     and Carlo, 2005 (17)

Language of          Upchurch et al.,
interview            2001 (14)

Language spoken      Sorenson, 1985 (15)
with friends

Culture
Latino cultural      Tschann et al.,
enjoyment            2002 (16)

American cultural    Tschann et al.,
enjoyment            2002 (16)

Padilla's ethnic     Fraser et al.,
identity             1998 (16)

Biculturalism        Fraser et al.,
                     1998 (16)

Phinney's ethnic     Raffaelli, Zamboanga
identity             and Carlo, 2005 (17)

Cultural             Jones, Kubelka            Family planning visit
orientation          and Bond, 2001 (16)       [less than or equal
                                               to] 1 yr.
                                               postpartum (0) *

Residence
City of residence    Sorenson, 1985 (15)

Multiple dimensions
Language and         Jimenez, Potts
residence            and Jimenez, 2002 (17)

Language, residence  Reynoso, Felice
and citizenship      and Shragg, 1993 (16)

Language and         Slonim-Nevo, 1992 (14)
self-identity

* No significant association in analyses adjusting for other
acculturation measures. ([dagger]) Significant for females.
([double dagger]) Significant when interacted with emotional distress.
([section]) Significant when interacted with other acculturation
measures. ** Positive association between biculturalism and risk.
([dagger][dagger]) Positive association between ethnic identity and
risk. Notes: Except where otherwise noted, +=positive association
with level of acculturation; -=negative association with level of
acculturation; 0=no significant association. Superscript numbers
refer to the reference list, page 217.