The role of Latino masculine values in Mexican adolescent sexuality.

OBJECTIVES: This study broadens the field of quantitative research on culture-specific values and Mexican adolescent sexual behavior from an ecological perspective. We examined how general values such as machismo and caballerismo, and sexual values such as the importance of male virginity are associated with Mexican adolescent normative sexual behaviors and intentions. We also examined the role of gender, age, and school type in these associations. METHOD: We administered measures of caballerismo, machismo, importance of male virginity, sexual intentions, and sexual behaviors to a sample of 539 Mexican adolescents, aged 12 to 15. RESULTS: The results indicated that adolescents who endorsed the machismo value more had greater intentions to have sex, and were more likely to receive oral sex. Adolescents who endorsed less caballerismo had greater intentions to have sex when they were not sexually active. Additionally, adolescents who reported lower importance of male virginity had greater intentions to have sex and a higher likelihood of having vaginal sex. Gender, age, and school context moderated a few associations. For example, older adolescents (but not younger) who endorsed more caballerismo reported lower intentions to have sex. CONCLUSIONS: The current study expands the understanding of how general and sexual culture-specific values are associated with the sexual intentions and behaviors of Mexican adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Patterns of Sexual Well-Being in Mexican Adolescents and Associations with Psychological Adjustment: A Latent Profile Analysis Approach.

We examined Mexican adolescent sexual well-being tasks, defined as the positive cognitive and emotional evaluations of one's sexuality. We assessed three dimensions: acceptance of sexual desire, sexual decision-making involving mutual consent, and, when sexually active, the practice of safe sex. We utilized a person-centered approach to examine how patterns marked by different aspects of sexual well-being predict psychological adjustment. Participants were 1123 Mexican high or middle school (72%) students (54% girls; Mage = 15.1, SD = 1.52). We found a 6-profile model: 1) Average Sexual Health (40%); 2) High Protective Low Acceptance (20%); 3) Multidimensional Healthy (19%); 4) Multidimensional Risky (11%); 5) High Acceptance Low Contraception and Consent (6%); and 6) High Consent Low Contraception (4%). These profiles included some adolescents who experienced both low and high sexual scores on different sexual well-being indicators. For example, adolescents who belonged to the High Protective, Low Acceptance profile understood the importance of safe sex and mutual consent; but still felt sexual guilt. Profile membership was associated with gender, religion, age, and sexual experience. Adolescents in classes marked by high levels of well-being reported high levels of psychological adjustment. Findings may help educators develop more targeted sexual risk and violence prevention programs.