Effective parenting in the lives of maturing Hispanic youth is essential when intending to prevent problem behaviors such as the use and abuse of substances and risky sexual behaviors. Without proper parental guidance, Hispanic youth suffer increased risk of contracting HIV because they will likely engage in drug use and risky sex, a new study from the University of Michigan indicated.

The study, which is one of the first to examine the impact of parent-adolescent "family functioning discrepancies on Hispanic teens' HIV risk behaviors," surveyed 765 Hispanic 8th grade students and their primary caregivers, who offered information on the past 90-days and lifetime use of alcohol and illicit drugs, in addition to sex initiation and unprotected sex.

Six factors were taken into account when creating the survey questions that examined child-rearing and the family dynamic, and those factors  were: positive parenting, parental monitoring of peers, parent-adolescent communication, parental involvement, family communication and family cohesion.

The study's participants also assessed their comfort and enjoyment with Hispanic and American cultural practices, food, traditions and use of language. The greater the difference in adolescent and parent reports of cultural norms and comfort, the greater the negative effect on family functionality.

"To effectively engage Hispanic families in prevention programs, intervention developers need to consider the social, political and institutional barriers that have historically prevented this population from having quality and equal access to programs and services," he said. "By not doing so, we run the risk of blaming them."

Parents offer their children important information regarding sex and drugs, and are receptive to questions, raise children who are more likely to steer clear of drugs, less likely to contract UTIs, and are more likely to attend college.