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Associations Between Health Risk Behaviors and Opposite-, Same-, and Both-Sex Sexual Partners in Representative Samples of Vermont and Massachusetts High School Students
Leah Robin, PhD;
Nancy D. Brener, PhD;
Shaun F. Donahue, MEd;
Tim Hack, MAEd;
Kelly Hale, MA;
Carol Goodenow, PhD
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2002;156:349-355.
Objective To examine associations between health risk behaviors and sexual experience
with opposite-, same-, or both-sex partners in representative samples of high
school students.
Design We used 1995 and 1997 data from the Vermont and Massachusetts Youth
Risk Behavior Surveys. Logistic regression and multiple regression analyses
were used to compare health risk behaviors among students who reported sex
with opposite-sex partners only (opposite-sex students), with same-sex partners
only (same-sex students), and with both male and female sexual partners (both-sex
students).
Setting Public high schools in Vermont and Massachusetts.
Participants Representative, population-based samples of high school students. The
combined samples had 14 623 Vermont students and 8141 Massachusetts students.
Main Outcome Measure Violence, harassment, suicidal behavior, alcohol and other drug use,
and unhealthy weight control practices.
Results In both states, both-sex students were significantly more likely to
report health risk behaviors than were opposite-sex students. For example,
both-sex students had odds 3 to 6 times greater than opposite-sex students
of being threatened or injured with a weapon at school, making a suicide attempt
requiring medical attention, using cocaine, or vomiting or using laxatives
to control their weight. In both states, same-sex students were as likely
as opposite-sex students to report most health risk behaviors.
Conclusion Relative to opposite- and same-sex students, both-sex students may be
at elevated risk of injury, disease, and death by experiencing serious harassment
and engaging in violence, suicidal behavior, alcohol and other drug use, and
unhealthy weight control practices.
From the Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga (Drs Robin and Brener); Vermont Department
of Education, Montpelier (Mr Donahue); Massachusetts Department of Education,
Malden (Mr Hack and Dr Goodenow); and the Vermont Department of Health, Burlington
(Ms Hale).
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