Adolescent Attitudes and Multilevel Influences on Risky Sexual Behavior Prevention in a Semi-Urban Border Province of Northern Thailand: The Roles of School, Family, and Community

Abstract

Adolescents in semi-urban border areas face sociocultural barriers that may limit effective sexual risk prevention. This study examined adolescents’ attitudes toward risky sexual behavior and assessed whether perceived support from school, family, and community (SFC) systems was associated with these attitudes in a northern Thai province. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 297 junior high school students aged 12–15 years. in Mae Hong Son Province. A self-administered questionnaire assessed preventive attitudes and perceived support from SFC. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 22. Preventive attitudes were low to moderate (M = 2.10, SD = 0.35). Perceived school (M = 3.49), family (M = 3.33), and community (M = 2.96) support was moderate. SFC variables were moderately intercorrelated (r = 0.43–0.59, p < .001), but showed weak, non-significant associations with preventive attitudes (r = .05–.11, p > .05). Regression analysis indicated no significant association (F(3, 293) = 1.11, p = .35; R² = .01). Perceived school, family, and community support was not significantly associated with adolescents’ preventive attitudes. Additional youth-centered and culturally responsive strategies may be needed to strengthen sexual health promotion in border settings.