Research on cultural factors and substance use among Hispanic adolescents has focused primarily on acculturation, while specific core Hispanic values and attributes have received minimal attention. The objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between traditional Hispanic cultural assets and substance use among adolescents. A purposive sample of 225 Hispanic adolescents (47% male) aged 13 to 16 years were recruited from community venues (e.g., park, school, mall) in a predominately Hispanic neighborhood. Participants completed a survey to assess cultural factors (familism, simpatía, respeto, and ethnic pride) and substance use in the past 3 months (alcohol and drug). Point-biserial correlations revealed significant associations of alcohol and drug use with greater familism (family connectedness), simpatía (interpersonal relationship harmony), and respeto (respect). Two stepwise binary logistic regressions were performed to evaluate the independent association between the cultural factors and substance use. The interaction of gender with each cultural factor was examined in both analyses. Simpatía emerged as the only cultural factor independently associated with alcohol use. Greater simpatía was related to abstention from alcohol. Both simpatía and familism independently correlated with drug use. Stronger endorsements of simpatía and familism were associated with absence from drug use. Interactions between cultural factors and gender were not observed. Simpatía emerged as the strongest cultural asset that may confer protection against substance use. If replicated, our results suggest substance prevention programs targeting Hispanic adolescents may benefit from the inclusion of cultural assets in the intervention paradigm.

Young Latinos aged 13–24 years in the USA are disproportionately impacted upon by HIV. Despite the elevated risk, lower rates of HIV testing have been documented among Latino youth relative to other racial/ethnic groups. The objective of the current study was to examine the influence of acculturation and cultural values on HIV testing among Latino youth. The study consisted of 51 sexually experienced young Latinos aged 13–16 years from a major city in the Southeastern USA. Participants completed a survey on HIV testing history, cultural orientation and Latino cultural values. Results indicate that 21.6% of the young people had been tested for HIV. The number of times tested ranged from one to four (M = 1.9 ± 1.0). HIV testing was associated with US American cultural orientation and familism (and emphasis on strong family commitment, family support and emotional closeness). Participants with greater orientation to US American culture were more likely, whereas those who endorsed higher familism value were less likely, to have had an HIV test. For participants scoring high on familism, the desire to maintain family honour may serve as a deterrent to testing. Incorporating culturally relevant strategies, such as promoting sexual communication and conversations on HIV prevention within the family, may enhance testing and narrow the gap in HIV infection between Latino youth and other ethnic groups.

Background: Relatively few studies have examined positive character traits that are associated with lower HIV/STD risks.Purpose: In the present study, the relationships of character strengths with sexual behaviors and attitudes were assessed among 383 African-American adolescents.Method: Character strengths were measured using the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths. Because the strengths were highly inter-correlated, stepwise discriminant function analyses were utilized to assess their independent associations with sexual behaviors and attitudes.Results: Greater Love of Learning was related to self-reported abstinence from sexual intercourse for boys and self-reported abstinence from drug use for boys and girls. Greater Love of Learning and Curiosity were related to the belief in no premarital sex for boys, whereas only Curiosity was significant for girls. Prudence was related to reported abstinence from sexual intimacy (e.g., touching or kissing). Judgment was related to sexual initiation efficacy for girls and boys, whereas Leadership was only significant for girls.Conclusions: The findings suggest that character strengths may be associated with lower levels of sexual behaviors and sex-related beliefs among a sample of African-American adolescents.