The next set of analyses examined associations between childhood and preadolescent characteristics and risky sexual outcomes using two approaches: 1) examining linear associations between child characteristics and the timing of risk behavior initiation and risky sexual outcomes, and 2) examining group differences to determine which characteristics significantly differentiated youth who developed different profiles of adolescent risk. The top part of Table 5 (indicated with T1 for time 1 measurements), shows simple correlations linking kindergarten child characteristics (externalizing behavior, attention problems, reading skills, cognitive ability) and family features (family SES, parental warmth) to the timing of initiation of risky adolescent behaviors (sexual activity, tobacco use, and alcohol/drug use) and occurrence of pregnancy or STD. For both boys and girls, higher rates of kindergarten externalizing behaviors and inattention and lower levels of cognitive ability predicted greater sexual risk (early sexual initiation, adolescent pregnancy and, for girls, STDs). In addition, poor reading skills predicted earlier sexual activity among boys. Lower family SES and lower levels of parental warmth in kindergarten were also significant predictors of early sexual activity, pregnancy, and (for family SES only) elevated STDs for both boys and girls.
