 |
|
Evolution of Risk Behaviors Over 2 Years Among a Cohort of Urban African American Adolescents
Bonita Stanton, MD;
Xiaoyi Fang, PhD;
Xiaoming Li, PhD;
Susan Feigelman, MD;
Jennifer Galbraith, MA;
Izabel Ricardo, PhD
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151(4):398-406.
Abstract
| |
Objective
To examine the evolution of risk behaviors over 2 years among a community-based cohort of low-income African American preadolescents and young adolescents enrolled in a randomized trial of an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome risk reduction intervention.
Design
Longitudinal, community-based cohort.
Setting
Nine recreation centers serving 3 public housing developments.
Subjects
Three hundred eighty-three African American youths aged 9 through 15 years at baseline.
Interventions
Frequency distributions,  2 analyses, and regression analyses regarding 10 risk behaviors were conducted. To assess whether a specific risk behavior or its protective (nonrisk) behavioral analogue, composing a risk-nonrisk behavioral complex (eg, was sexually active and was sexually abstinent or used drugs and refrained from drugs), was stable over time,  values were determined for the 10 risk-nonrisk behavioral complexes.
Main Outcome Measures
Instrument assessing risk behaviors administered at baseline and every 6 months aurally and visually via talking computer.
Results
The prevalence of sexual intercourse, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug use increased notably over time. Drug use increased from a 6-month cumulative prevalence of 7% at baseline to 27% at the 24-month follow-up (P<.001). Cumulatively over the 2-year study interval, 81% of youths had engaged in fighting, 58% had engaged in sexual intercourse, and from 33% to 40% had engaged in truancy, knife or bat carrying or both, alcohol consumption, drug use, and cigarette smoking. All of the risk-nonrisk behavioral complexes except weapon carrying were stable during the semiannual assessment intervals. Fighting (=0.22, P<.01), sexual intercourse (=0.33, P<.001), alcohol consumption =0.21, P<.001), and unprotected sexual intercourse (0.34, P<.05) were stable for 2 years. Six risk-nonrisk behavioral complexes were stable for the 2-year interval among youths aged 13 through 15 years at baseline, while only 2 risk-nonrisk behavioral complexes were stable among younger youths. The intervention seemed to affect the stability of 4 risk behaviors: truancy, drug use, unprotected sexual intercourse, and, possibly, fighting. For unprotected sexual intercourse, this intervention effect seemed to be due to stabilization of nonparticipation in risky behavior. Intervention youths were less likely to adopt a risk behavior (ie, engage in it for  2 risk assessment periods) than control youths, but they were not less likely to experiment with a risk behavior.
Conclusions
There is evidence that although the prevalence of risk behaviors does change with age, most risk-nonrisk behavioral complexes seem to be relatively stable over time and stability may increase with time. Risk reduction interventions seem to decrease risk adoption, stabilize nonrisk behaviors, and possibly destabilize risk behavior.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151:398-406
Author Affiliations
From the Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine (Drs Stanton, Li, Feigelman, and Ricardo and Ms Galbraith), and Center for Minority Health Research, University of Maryland (Drs Stanton, Fang, Li, and Ricardo and Ms Galbraith), Baltimore; and the Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China (Dr Fang).
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
|
Effects Through 24 Months of an HIV/AIDS Prevention Intervention Program Based on Protection Motivation Theory Among Preadolescents in the Bahamas
Gong et al.
Pediatrics 2009;123:e917-e928.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Focus-on-Teens, sexual risk-reduction intervention for high-school adolescents: impact on knowledge, change of risk-behaviours, and prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases
Gaydos et al.
Int J STD AIDS 2008;19:704-710.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Protection Motivation Theory and Adolescent Drug Trafficking: Relationship Between Health Motivation and Longitudinal Risk Involvement
Wu et al.
J Pediatr Psychol 2005;30:127-137.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Randomized Trial of a Parent Intervention: Parents Can Make a Difference in Long-term Adolescent Risk Behaviors, Perceptions, and Knowledge
Stanton et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2004;158:947-955.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Sustaining and Broadening Intervention Impact: A Longitudinal Randomized Trial of 3 Adolescent Risk Reduction Approaches
Wu et al.
Pediatrics 2003;111:e32-38.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Randomized Controlled Trial of a Safer Sex Intervention for High-Risk Adolescent Girls
Shrier et al.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2001;155:73-79.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Behavioral Predictors of Intended Sexual Behavior Among a Sample of African American Undergraduates
Braithwaite et al.
Journal of Black Psychology 1998;24:164-177.
ABSTRACT
|
