A adolescência é um período de vulnerabilidade para comportamentos de risco. Devido às mudanças físicas e psicológicas da puberdade, a necessidade de experimentar o novo e início do comportamento sexual, o adolescente está mais vulnerável a aquisição de comportamentos como fumar, beber e ter comportamento sexual desprotegido. Para promover a saúde e aumentar a competência psicossocial dos adolescentes, a Organização Mundial de Saúde preconiza o Ensino de Habilidades de Vida. Este programa consiste no ensino de dez habilidades (emocionais, cognitivas e sociais) que aumentam a capacidade dos jovens adotarem comportamentos positivos e adaptativos no cotidiano. São elas: autoconhecimento, lidar com emoções e estresse, comunicação eficaz, relacionamento interpessoal, empatia, pensamento crítico, pensamento criativo, tomada de decisão e resolução de problemas. A literatura aponta que o conjunto dessas habilidades promove a saúde dos adolescentes e previne comportamentos de risco. Este estudo tem o objetivo é avaliar os efeitos do programa Ensino de Habilidades de Vida entre adolescentes vinculados a instituições profissionalizantes, sobre os comportamentos de risco e o locus de controle. Participaram 45 adolescentes de duas instituições no município de Ribeirão Preto, com 24 e 21 participantes em cada uma delas. A faixa etária situava-se entre 14 e 17 anos e 11 meses, a população era predominantemente do sexo masculino e a maioria estudante. Formaram-se oito grupos, quatro por instituição, durante os anos de 2003 e 2004, com média de seis participantes cada. Foram realizados 16 encontros, com freqüência semanal e duração de uma hora e meia em uma, e uma hora na outra instituição. Para avaliar a intervenção, no 4º e 15º encontros foram aplicados dois questionários, um sobre comportamentos de risco para a saúde e a escala de Locus de Controle de Levenson. No 16º encontro, foi realizada uma entrevista em grupo. Do 5º ao 14º encontros foram desenvolvidas as habilidades de vida, uma por encontro. A metodologia utilizada foi interativa e participativa, através de jogos, dramatizações e discussões. As variáveis dependentes eram: comportamentos de risco para o tabaco, álcool, drogas ilícitas, sexo desprotegido, locus de controle e o relato dos participantes sobre os efeitos do programa no cotidiano. Os resultados quantitativos, em ambas as instituições, não demonstraram diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre pré e pós intervenção nos dois instrumentos. A prevalência de uso na vida para o beber e fumar apresentaram-se acima da média nacional. Diminuíram os episódios de beber excessivo e aumentaram as respostas sobre o beber moderado, de 1 a 2 doses por ocasião. Os resultados qualitativos demonstraram que as habilidades de vida relacionadas ao autocontrole ajudam diante de situações de estresse na família, com amigos, na escola e com parceiros. Com relação aos comportamentos de risco, as habilidades mais frequentemente associadas foram tomada de decisão e pensamento crítico. Conclui-se que a aprendizagem cognitiva sobre como utilizar as habilidades de vida pode facilitar respostas mais ajustadas em situações futuras. Nos relatos observa-se mudanças de comportamento como pausar antes de agir, refletir antes de decidir, ouvir com atenção e adotar comportamentos saudáveis para lidar com o estresse. / Adolescence is a period of vulnerabilities for risk behaviors. Because of the physical and psychological changes in puberty, the need to seek novelties and the beginning of sexual behavior, the adolescent is left more vulnerable to begin behaviors like smoking, drinking and having unprotected sex. To promote health and increase the adolescent psychosocial competence, the World Health Organization recommends a program of Life Skills Training. This program consists of ten skills (emotional, cognitive and social) that increase the ability of the youth to adopt positive and adaptive behaviors when confronted with quotidian situations. They are: self-knowledge, dealing with emotions and with stress, effective communication, interpersonal relationships, empathy, critical thought, creative thought, taking decisions and problem resolutions. The literature shows that this group of skills promotes health among adolescents and prevents risk behaviors. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of a program of Life Skills Training on risk behavior and Locus of Control among adolescents who attend a professionalizing institution. Forty five adolescents from two institutions in the city of Ribeirão Preto participated in this study, the institutions having 24 and 21 participants respectively. Their ages were between 14 and 17 and 11 months, the population was mostly masculine and the majority was students. They were divided into 8 groups, 4 from each institution, during the years 2003 and 2004, with the mean of 6 participants per group. Sixteen meetings were held, one per week, with durations of one and half hours at one institution and one hour at the other. To evaluate the intervention, at the 4th and 15th meeting two questionnaires were used, one about risk behavior for health and the other a scale of Locus of Control from Levenson. At the 16th meeting a group interview was conducted. Between the 5th and the 14th meeting the Life Skills were developed at the rate of one per meeting. The methodology used was interactive and participative, using games, role-plays and discussions. The dependent variables were: risk behavior for tobacco use, alcohol use, illicit drugs, unprotected sex, Locus of Control and the report of the participants about the effects of the program in their quotidian. The quantitative outcomes, in both institutions, didnt show statistical significant difference between pre and post intervention for any of the instruments. The prevalence of life use for drinking and smoking were above the national mean. Episodes of excessive drinking decreased while responses to moderate drinking increased, about 1 to 2 per occasion. The qualitative results showed that the Life Skills related to self control helped when confronted with stress situations within the family, between friends, in the school and between partners. With relation to risk behaviors, the skills more associated were decision making and critical thought. It was concluded that cognitive learning about how to use the life skills can facilitate responses more adjusted in future situations. In the reports it is possible to observe changes in behaviors such as pausing before acting, reflecting before deciding, an increase in attention span and the adopting of healthy behavior in dealing with stress.

The studies that have been published since 1990 which are dealing with the relationship of the genetic polymorphism of the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) in relation to alcoholism or other disorders or diseases have brought contradictory results. These results have led the author of this thesis to closely investigate the relationship between the genetic polymorphism of the A1 allele gene for DRD2 and hazardous alcohol consumption in the Czech Republic with a focus on the artistic area. A total of 29 participants (15 artists and 14 "non-artists") were involved in the study. The criterion for selecting the examined sample was the type of professional focus (artistic, non-artistic). A genetic analysis of blood (PCR-RFLP method) was used to determine the genotype. Only in the "non-artistic" group the presence of the genetic polymorphism of the A1 allele for DRD2 was found (a predisposition to a risk behavior in relation to alcohol). Additional parameters were found using EEG, an AUDIT test and a temperament questionnaire. A statistical analysis confirmed an association between the appearance of the A1 allele for DRD2 and a higher amplitude of the P300 component (p = 0.0000421). Statistically proven riskier alcohol consumption was found among introverted artists (n = 9) in the AUDIT test (p = 0.02298).

Submitted by Jailda Nascimento (jmnascimento@pucsp.br) on 2016-10-04T14:32:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Roberto Garcia.pdf: 4809301 bytes, checksum: d4e473a0adf83548a31acfe46f828f61 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-04T14:32:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Roberto Garcia.pdf: 4809301 bytes, checksum: d4e473a0adf83548a31acfe46f828f61 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-08 / This study aimed to identify and understand factors involved in conducts of circumstantial omission and refusal of condom use with casual and/or stable partners by MSM living with HIV+; and as a specific objective, to understand the behavior of intentional and deliberate refusal of condom use among MSM with HIV+. In this research of mixed methods, comparing reports between quantitative and qualitative components, 178 participants were selected for the quantitative stage (total sample = T), who filled out a sociodemographic form with condom usage habits, as well as two scales – Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and Sexual Compulsivity Scale (SCS). From this universe, 81 participants were selected for the qualitative stage (Subsample = S-2), also answering to three fictional-projective stories and rating a 2014 National Campaign Poster on HIV. For the qualitative analysis we used the Discourse of the Collective Subject; and for the quantitative analysis we opted for the combination of Natural Language Processing and triangulation with qualitative results. Among the main findings we highlight that, in the quantitative stage, from the 73 subjects (41%) (T) that had declared the use of condom in all their sexual relations, only 14 (17.3%) (S-2) effectively admitted its use in the qualitative stage, indicating divergence between the two groups. Similarly, this contradiction was repeated as to the use of psychoactive substances – characterized in this study as the main triggering factor of condom use omission –, since only 28% (T) initially admitted having used them, in contrast to the total of 56% (S- 2) in the qualitative stage. Another difference that would mean a "clear proof" of failure and refusal of condom use occurred in their assertion of having contracted STIs after the HIV diagnosis, identified in 35.5% (T) and 52% (S-2), respectively. Another finding was the intentional and deliberate refusal of condom use associated with signs of compulsive sexual behavior and risk in pleasure, including the barebackers and those practiced in cruising areas. Given the significant divergences between the initial reports of the participants and what was later identified in the two stages of this research, we conclude that clinical guidelines and public policies should be cautious in research interpretation, with proper checkings associated with further investigations. The clinical features observed in this study, including the evidence of impulsive and compulsive sexual behaviors, may constitute determining benchmarks to be taking into account in future actions associated to the use of condoms by MSM with HIV+ / Cette étude a eu pour but principal d‟identifier et de comprendre les facteurs impliqués dans le comportement de l'omission circonstancielle et le refus de l'utilisation du préservatif avec des partenaires occasionnels et / ou stables des HSH VIH+; et comme objectif spécifique, comprendre le comportement de refus intentionnel et délibéré de l'utilisation du préservatif chez les HSH VIH+. Dans cette recherche utilisant des méthodes mixtes, qui a comparé les récits recueillis chez les composantes quantitatives et qualitatives, 178 participants ont été sélectionnés pour l‟étape quantitative (échantillon total = T), ceux-là ont rempli un formulaire socio-démographique portant également sur leurs habitudes d'utilisation du préservatif, et deux échelles - la Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) et l'Échelle de la Compulsion Sexuelle (ECS). Dans cet univers, 81 participants ont été alors choisis (sous-échantillon = S-2) pour l'étape qualitative, lesquels ont également répondu à trois histoires fictives-projectives et évalué une affiche de la Campagne nationale contre le VIH de 2014. Comme méthode d'analyse qualitative, nous avons utilisé le Discours du sujet collectif; et pour l'analyse quantitative, nous avons choisi la combinaison du Traitement de la langue naturelle et la triangulation avec des résultats qualitatifs. Parmi les principaux résultats, nous soulignons que, au cours de l‟étape quantitative, sur les 73 sujets (41%) (T) qui avaient déclaré initialement avoir utilisé des préservatifs lors de toutes les relations sexuelles, au cours de l‟étape qualitative seulement 14 (17,3%) (S-2) ont admis l‟utiliser effectivement, ce qui montre des divergences entre les deux groupes. Cette contradiction s‟est répétée en ce qui concerne l'utilisation de substances psychoactives - caractérisée dans cette étude comme le principal facteur déclencheur de l'omission de l‟utilisation du préservatif -, car seulement 28% (T) ont initialement admis les utiliser, en contraste avec le total de 56% (S- 2) lors de l‟étape qualitative. Une autre divergence, qui représenterait une «preuve définitive» de l'omission et du refus de l'utilisation du préservatif, a eu lieu lorsqu‟ils ont déclaré avoir contracté les MST après le diagnostic du VIH, identifiée dans 35,5% (T) et dans 52% (S-2) respectivement. Une autre constatation est le refus intentionnel et délibéré de l'utilisation du préservatif associé à des indices de comportement sexuel compulsif et le plaisir du risque, parmi lesquels ceux des barebackers et ceux pratiqués dans les cruising areas. Compte tenu des divergences importantes existant entre les récits initiaux des participants et ce qui a été identifié plus tard au cours des deux étapes de cette recherche, nous avons conclu que les orientations cliniques et celles des politiques publiques doivent être plus prudentes en ce qui concerne l'interprétation des enquêtes, en effectuant les vérifications nécessaires associées à une investigation plus approfondie. Les caractéristiques cliniques observées dans cette étude, parmi lesquelles les indices de comportement sexuel impulsif et compulsif, peuvent constituer des référentiels déterminants à prendre en considération lors des actions futures concernant l'utilisation des préservatifs chez les HSH VIH+ / Este estudo teve como objetivo principal identificar e compreender fatores envolvidos nos comportamentos de omissão circunstancial e recusa do uso do preservativo com parcerias eventuais e/ou estáveis de HSH HIV+; e, como objetivo específico, compreender o comportamento de recusa intencional e deliberada do uso do preservativo entre HSH HIV+. Nesta pesquisa de métodos mistos, que comparou os relatos entre os componentes quantitativos e qualitativos, foram selecionados 178 participantes para a etapa quantitativa (amostra total = T), que preencheram um formulário sociodemográfico e de hábitos do uso do preservativo, e duas escalas – a Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) e a Escala de Compulsividade Sexual (ECS). Desse universo, foram então selecionados 81 participantes (Subamostra = S-2) para a etapa qualitativa, que também responderam a três histórias fictício-projetivas e avaliaram um cartaz de Campanha Nacional do HIV de 2014. Como método de análise qualitativa, utilizamos o Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo; e para a análise quantitativa optamos pela combinação de Processamento de Língua Natural e triangulação com resultados qualitativos. Dentre os principais resultados encontrados destacamos que, na etapa quantitativa, dos 73 sujeitos (41%) (T) que declararam inicialmente ter usado preservativos durante todas as relações sexuais, na etapa qualitativa apenas 14 (17,3%) (S-2) admitiram efetivamente usá-lo, demonstrando divergências entre os dois grupos. Essa contradição se repetiu no uso de substâncias psicoativas – caracterizado neste estudo como o principal fator desencadeador da omissão do uso do preservativo –, pois somente 28% (T) inicialmente admitiram usá-las, em contraste com o total de 56% (S-2) na etapa qualitativa. Outra divergência, que representaria a “prova cabal” de omissão e recusa do uso do preservativo, ocorreu na declaração de terem contraído DSTs após o diagnóstico do HIV, identificada em 35,5% (T) e em 52% (S-2), respectivamente. Outra constatação foi a recusa intencional e deliberada do uso do preservativo associada a indícios de comportamento sexual compulsivo e prazer no risco, entre eles o dos barebackers, e aqueles praticados nas cruising areas. Considerando as significativas divergências entre os relatos iniciais dos participantes e o que foi identificado posteriormente nas duas etapas desta pesquisa, conclui-se que orientações clínicas e de políticas públicas devem ser cautelosas na interpretação de pesquisas, com as devidas checagens associadas a uma investigação mais aprofundada. As características clínicas observadas neste estudo, entre elas os indícios de comportamentos sexuais impulsivos e compulsivos, podem se constituir em referenciais determinantes a serem considerados em futuras ações quanto ao uso do preservativo em HSH HIV+

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Physical fights among middle school students is a problem in our school systems, with 24.7% of students having been in a physical fight one or more times in 2013. The purpose of this study was to estimate the extent to which physical fights among middle school students in Tennessee was associated with demographic factors (age, sex and race) and to identify individual level factors that influence the likelihood of middle school students engaging in a physical fight.The 2013 Tennessee Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YBRS) data was used for this study, which is an annual cross-sectional school data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. A total of 5589 Tennessee Middle school students were included in the analysis. The outcome variable was physical fighting. Explanatory variables included demographic variables, life styles and health behavior risk factors. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported.The analyses indicate that male students were more likely to be involved in a physical fight than the female students (OR 2.89, 95% CI 2.49-3.36) and white students were less likely to be involved in a physical fight than the non-White students (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.43-0.58). For every one year increase in age, the relative odds of being involved in a physical fight increased by 9.4% (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02-1.18). Similarly, students who ever tried to commit suicide (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.39-2.53), drink alcohol (OR 2.48, 95% CI 2.02-3.05) and smoke cigarettes (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.56-2.44) were more likely to be involved in a physical fight than those who did not. Students who carried a weapon were more likely to be involved in a physical fight than those students who did not (OR 2.72, 95% CI 2.31-3.20). While Students who watched television for 3 or more hours per day were more likely to engage in physical fights (OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.04-1.39) than students who did not, students with school grades A and B (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.49-0.68), feeling safe and secure at school (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.62-0.87), sleeping eight or more hours per day (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.69-0.92) were less likely to be involved in a fight in school than other students.Age, gender, race, smoking, alcohol, use of marijuana, sleeping time, school performance, school safety environment, suicide attempt and TV time were potential risk factors associated with physical fights among middle school students. Strategies to reduce physical fights among students in Tennessean middle schools are needed.

Adolescent obesity is an area of growing public health concern. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducts surveys through their Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) every two years to monitor a variety of health risk factors and behaviors among high school and middle school students. The YRBSS compiles information about obesity and BMI percentile, among many other factors. We accessed a combined dataset available on the YRBSS website which includes all data collected from high school students’ surveys from 1991 to 2013. Due to updating of questionnaires and adding of variables over the years, some variables only appear in the most recent years, limiting trend analysis to the timeframe in which the variable of interest was included. We analyzed the linear and quadratic trends in BMI percentile, obesity, and overweight rates in the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) from 1999 to 2013 and in the Tennessee YRBS from 2003 to 2013. Each variable was stratified by age and race to observe differences among groups. National trends show an increase in average BMI percentiles overall from 1999 to 2007, a decrease between 2007 and 2009, then another increase between 2009 and 2013. Tennessee trends show a dramatic increase in average BMI percentile overall from 2003 to 2007, then a decrease between 2007 and 2013. Since 2005, Tennessee has maintained a higher average BMI percentile (64.23, 66.37, 65.00, 64.96, 64.23) than the national average (63.47, 64.23, 62.81, 63.00, 63.51) for each recorded year, however, the decreasing trends in Tennessee and increasing trends in the nation have brought the average BMI percentiles of each to comparable rates. There is literature to support the variation of BMI among young, middle-aged, and elderly individuals. However, there is currently little evidence of differences in BMI percentiles, obesity, or overweight rates between different age groups of high school students. We expect to see little, if any, differences across different age groups of high school students in this study both nationally and at the state level. Racial and ethnic disparities exist for a variety of health conditions and outcomes. Many conditions, including obesity, disproportionately affect minority populations. We expect to see differences in BMI percentiles, obesity, and overweight rates across different races at both nationally and at the state level.

Introduction. Suicide-related fatalities are the third leading cause of death among adolescents, resulting in approximately 4,600 deaths annually. According to findings from the 2005 National College Health Assessment, engagement in weekly physical activity (PA) reduced the risk of suicidal behaviors. Data from the 2010 middle school Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) administered by Tennessee Coordinated School Health this study investigates the cross-sectional relationships of PA with suicidal behaviors, while simultaneously considering explanatory variables such as personal characteristics, sedentary behaviors, drug use, extreme weight control behaviors (EWCB), body mass index (BMI) and weight misperception. Methods. This is a secondary analysis of data from the 2010 Tennessee Middle School YRBS conducted among 65,182 middle school students of which 60,715 students were included in the final analysis. Items assessed were PA, sports team engagement, PE class, sedentary behaviors, suicidal behaviors, drug use, EWCB, BMI, weight misperception and selected personal characteristics. A bivariate analysis was used to create simple descriptive statistics, including means, standard deviations and proportions. Overall, approximately 21.15% (N= 13,704) reported suicidal behaviors, specifically, 18.30% reported ever having thoughts of suicide, 11.13% had ever made a suicide plan and 7.02% had one or more suicide attempts in their lifetime. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to compare the odds of experiencing suicidal behaviors in adolescents who engaged in PA, sports teams, and PE class, with students who did not perform these activities. We used odds ratios (OR) to assess effect size (ES), rather than p-values to assess statistical significance due to the study’s large sample size. As general rules of thumb, there is a small effect size when ES=0.20 or OR = 1.44, 0.694, medium effect size when ES=0.50 or OR = 2.47, 0.405 and large effect size when ES=0.80 or OR = 4.25, 0.235. Results. Based on ES, age, race/ethnicity, gender, grade in school, sports team engagement, PE class attendance, sedentary behaviors, drug use and EWCB were associated with suicidal behaviors. Associations were strongest for drug/substance use and EWCB and suicidal behaviors, both with large ESs. Although weakened when controlling for other independent variables, the ES of race/ethnicity (other vs white non-Hispanic), gender, sports team engagement, drug/substance use and EWCB on suicidal behaviors were >0.20. The ES of age, PE class attendance, and sedentary behaviors were <0.20. Conclusion. Findings suggest that sports team engagement is associated with reduced risk for suicidal behaviors; whereas, no effects were found for PA or PE class attendance. Asking adolescents questions about sports team engagement may help screen for risk of suicidal behaviors.

Introduction: Childhood obesity has more than quadrupled in the last 30 years, with the prevalence in adolescents aged 12-17 years increasing from 5% in 1980 to 21% in 2012. The purpose of this study was to estimate the extent to which childhood obesity in Tennessee is associated with between-context differences (districts, schools and classes) and to identify factors at the district, school, class, and individual level that influence the individual weight status among 64,790 Tennessee children and adolescents. Methods: Crosssectional data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) conducted in Tennessee (2010) were used to conduct multilevel analyses that account for the nesting of students in classes, classes in schools and schools in districts. The outcome variable was childhood obesity (>95th percentile). Explanatory variables included district-level factors (the proportion of children wearing seat belts or helmets in district and the proportion of being asked to show proof of age), school-level factors (current tobacco use in school, and HIV/AIDS education in school), class-level factors (the average of smoking days in past 30 days and the proportion of ever having exercised to lose weight in class) and individual-level factors (state geographical regions, age, gender, grade, ever ridden in a car driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol, ever carried a weapon, made a plan to kill yourself, ever used or early onset use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, exercised to control weight, school day television time, days of physical education (PE) classes. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Results: Multilevel analyses indicate that 0.90%, 0.08%, and 0.45% of the variation in obesity is associated with class, school and district differences, respectively. Male middle schoolers were at greater risk for obesity [OR: 1.82, C.I. (1.75, 1.89)] compared to females. For every one year increase in age, the relative odds of obesity increased by 11% (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.88-0.91). Students with worse grades were more likely to have obesity [OR: 1.33, C.I. (1.13, 1.56)]. Students who watched TV 3 hours or more per day were more likely to be obese [OR: 1.31, C.I. (1.23, 1.40)] compared to those who did less than 3 hours per day. Similarly students who ever tried cigarettes were more likely to be obese [OR: 2.15, C.I. (1.62, 2.85)] compared to those students who did not. Students who reported wearing seat belts [OR: 0.05, C.I. (0.02, 0.16)] were less likely to be obese. Conclusions: This study highlights a number of modifiable factors on multiple levels associated with child and adolescent obesity in the state of Tennessee. The results emphasize the importance of targeting programs beyond individual adolescent factors to the child’s classes, schools, and school districts, to reduce the prevalence of obesity among Tennessee adolescents.

Sexual risk behaviors pose a major public health problem. However, sufficient research has not been done on the relationship between health risk behaviors and emotional intelligence. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence, and sexual, smoking, and alcohol behavior among young adults. As well as explore the relationship between health risk behaviors. Emotional intelligence and sexual, alcohol, and smoking behavior of undergraduate college students from the greater Los Angeles area was assessed through an anonymous online questionnaire (n=80). There was no significant difference found in emotional intelligence between college students engaging in risk behaviors and college students not engaging in risk behaviors, for all risk behaviors assessed. However, there was a strong correlation found between college students engagement in different risk behaviors. These results indicate there is no significant relationship between emotional intelligence and health risk behaviors. Research about this relationship can be useful in designing interventions that reduce negative health outcome associated with health risk behaviors.

In 2015, Mississippi had the 3rd highest adolescent birth rate in the United States, high rates of sexually transmitted diseases, and enduring racial disparities between African American and White teenagers. Few researchers have described the immediate cultural environment to determine how it may influence the sexual behaviors and attitudes of African American teens. The purpose of this qualitative ethnographic study was to describe the sociocultural environment of African American adolescents in Mississippi that influences their sexual behavior by exploring the knowledge, feelings, experiences and beliefs of African American adults. The social cognitive theory was used as a theoretical framework to address 3 purpose-driven research questions. Criterion-based convenience and snowball sampling was used to select 16 African American male and female participants ages 18-64 who were residents of the study location for at least 10 years. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview protocol designed. Interview transcripts were coded, data was triangulated, and themes were identified based upon participant responses. Findings were identified across 3 thematic categories: knowledge, beliefs and experiences, and community engagement. Participants wanted adolescents to postpone sexual activity until they were more mature and believed adolescents and their parents need education and improved communication about risks and prevention. Recommendations include deeper exploration into public health and community engagement strategies to improve health outcomes in the face of unique community challenges. Social change may also result from this study's initiation of community conversations around adolescent sexuality and healthy development.