Objectives: To examine how the relationship between parental-related youth assets and youth sexual activity differed by race/ethnicity.
Methods: A random sample of 976 youth and their parents living in a Midwestern city participated in the study. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted for 3 major ethnic groups controlling for the other demographics.
Results: Parental monitoring had the strongest association with sexual abstinence for all 3 ethnic/racial groups. Family communication and relationship with mother were also important for white and black youth respectively.
Conclusions: Parental youth assets, especially parental monitoring, can be important in the decision to delay sexual intercourse.