Advisor(s)
Cora Lewis
Committee Member(s)
Katia Bruxvoort
Renee Heffron
School
School of Public Health
Document Type
Thesis
Department (new version)
Epidemiology
Date of Award
1-6-2025
Abstract
Background: Adolescents are significantly affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs), a public health challenge linked to high-risk sexual behaviors, including early sexual initiation, unprotected intercourse, multiple partners, and substance use. Protective factors such as parental monitoring and peer connectedness have demonstrated the potential to reduce adolescent risky behaviors. This study aims to examine the relationship between parental monitoring, peer connectedness, and potential exposure to STIs in high school students. Methods: This study analyzed data from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), focusing on potential STI exposure, parental monitoring, and peer connectedness among U.S. high school students. Potential STI exposure was measured using a composite score based on six sexual behavior questions. Parental monitoring and peer connectedness were treated as binary variables. Logistic regression models assessed the associations between these variables and STI exposure, adjusting for age, sex, race, and alcohol use. Age-stratified analyses explored interactions between age and parental monitoring to examine effect modifications. Results: The weighted analytic sample included 7,498 students after quality control exclusions. Older adolescents (16-17 years) were more represented in the potential STI exposure group, which had notably higher alcohol use (47.8%). High parental monitoring was significantly associated with lower odds of potential STI exposure (OR = 0.31, p < 0.0001), with a stronger effect in younger adolescents. Peer connectedness was also associated with reduced odds of potential STI exposure (OR = 0.70, p < 0.0001). These associations remained significant even after adjusting for age, sex, race, and alcohol use, although the effect sizes slightly decreased. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the protective role of parental monitoring and peer connectedness in reducing adolescents' risk of potential STI exposure. Parental involvement during adolescence and supportive relationships in school and community settings are key strategies for promoting healthy behaviors. As adolescents gain independence, parental approaches may need to adapt to encourage positive choices. These results highlight the importance of parental engagement and supportive peer environments in helping adolescents avoid risky behaviors.
ProQuest ID
Recommended Citation
Pullen, Allyson L., "Parental Monitoring, Peer Connectedness, And Potential Exposure To Stis In Adolescents Using The Youth And Risk Behavior Survey (Yrbs) Of 2021" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 7290.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7290
