Do the Effects of Ecodevelopmental Factors On HIV Risk Behaviors in Hispanic Youth Vary by Region and Acculturation?

Introduction: Hispanic youth disproportionately engage in HIV risk behaviors, including alcohol and other drug use and sexual risk behaviors. In spite of this, few studies have examined the role of ecodevelopmental factors, including family, school and community on HIV risk behaviors, including alcohol and other drug use and sexual risk behaviors, in Hispanic adolescents. Even less is known with respect to whether and to what extent the impact of ecodevelopmental factors vary as a function of differences in acculturation orientations and region of the US The notion of acculturation orientation is embedded in the conceptual framework that use a multidimensional approach to characterize acculturation. Within this characterization, acculturation orientations are heterogeneous and represent different combination of receiving-culture and heritage culture retention such that individuals can develop different variant of biculturalism (e.g., low and high biculturalism). Recent studies show that heterogeneity in acculturation orientation is differentially associated to HIV risk outcomes among youth. The purpose of this study was to (1) examine the role of ecodevelopmental factors, including family, school and community on HIV risk behaviors in Hispanic adolescents, and (2) whether and to what extent the impact of ecodevelopmental factors on HIV risk behaviors vary as a function of acculturation orientations and region of the United States.

Methods: The data was drawn from a longitudinal study of acculturation and health risk behaviors among Hispanic adolescents in Miami and Los Angeles (Seth J. Schwartz, P.I.; Grant DA026594). A total of 302 Hispanic adolescents (152 from Miami and 150 from Los Angeles) were included in this study and assessed at baseline, 6-, 12-, and 18-months post-baseline. Adolescents completed self-report measures to assess recent alcohol and other drug use, sexual risk behavior, and acculturation in the last 3 months prior to assessment. Additionally, adolescents completed measures of family, school and community factors. 

Results: Latent class growth analysis found trajectories of acculturation were related to distal alcohol and other drug use and risky sexual behavior at last assessment. Additionally, multigroup growth curve analysis indicated significantly different trajectories in alcohol and other drug use and sexual risk behaviors by United States region (i.e., Miami and Los Angeles).

Conclusions: These results suggest that the impact of ecodevelopmental factors on HIV risk behaviors in Hispanic adolescents might vary as a function of acculturation orientations and region of the United States. Thus, preventive interventions targeted at specific risk factors in different regions as well as a function of acculturation orientations may prove to improve the impact of interventions on HIV risk behaviors among Hispanic adolescents.