Parents smoking seat belt nonuse may be linked to increased odds of adolescents sexual debut.

Two risky health behaviors of parents with adolescent children--smoking and not using seat belts--appear to be linked to their childrens sexual and contraceptive behaviors. According to an analysis of 1994-1995 data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. An adolescent whose parent smokes has independently elevated odds of ever having sex and of having sex before age 15 (odds ratios 1.4-1.5) as well as of using a contraceptive method at first sex (1.3 for males only). Further adolescent males whose parent rarely uses seat belts have significantly increased odds of ever having sex (1.3). There is no independent association however between parental heavy drinking and the adolescent sexual and contraceptive behaviors examined. (excerpt)