According to the epidemiological paradox, less acculturated Latina/o youth display fewer sexual risk behaviors. A systematic review was performed on psychosocial and cultural mechanisms potentially underlying the epidemiological paradox in sexual risk behaviors of U.S. Latina/o youth across acculturation measures (between January 2000 to October 2022). Thirty-five publications (n = 35) with forty-eight analyses of underlying mechanisms met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-one results from twenty-three publications found supporting evidence that one of the five factors was an underlying mechanism in the epidemiological paradox (n = 13 parenting practices, n = 4 peer influences, n = 4 familismo values, n = 4 religiosity, n = 6 traditional gender norms) as, generally protective, mediators or moderators in the link between acculturation and sexual risk behaviors. Studies varied in the sexual risk behavior examined and measurement of acculturation, but primarily employed cross-sectional designs and recruited samples through schools. Mechanisms that enhance close ties and unity of the family, such as those of familismo values and positive parenting, reduce the likelihood of sexual risk behaviors as Latina/o youth become more acculturated. Future directions are discussed which may provide guidance for risk prevention and intervention.
Keywords: Latina/o youth; acculturation; familismo; gender norms; parental influence; peer norms; religiosity; sexual risk.