Chunk #20 — Results — Effect of the Conditioned Models on Risky Sex at Age 16, Controlling for Race, Conduct Problems, Impulsivity, Menarche and Poverty
To examine the unique effects of the conditioned baseline model on later risky sex, risky sex at age 16 was then regressed on the latent variable growth factors and the covariates. Standard indicators showed that the model continued to fit the data well: χ2 [16]=20.02, p=.22; CFI=.995; TLI=.985; and RMSEA=.02. Higher initial level of alcohol use at age 12 was marginally related (β=.23, p=.07) to a greater likelihood of engaging in risky sex at age 16 (see Fig. 1). However, a more rapid increase in alcohol use from ages 12–15 was significantly associated with risky sex at age 16 (β=.64, p<.01). Race was also uniquely associated with risky sex. Thus, African American girls were more likely to engage in risky sex at age 16 (β=.34, p<.01) after controlling for conduct problems, poor impulse control, household poverty and menarche. None of the other covariates uniquely predicted risky sex at age 16 in this model.
