Use of harmful substances (alcohol, tobacco and other illicit drugs), violence/injury, and related sexual risks (STDs, HIV/AIDS, teenage and unwanted pregnancy) among youth are widespread and serious problems. Finding ways of preventing adolescents, particularly minority youth, from initiation or continuation of risky health behaviors is therefore of utmost importance. An innovative community-linked risk prevention/resilience building study (TEENSMART) for Latino youth has been initiated. The long-term aim of this study is to reduce substance use, violence/injury, and risky sexual behaviors among Latino youth (male and female, aged 12-15 years). Two study sites, an urban community-based setting and a rural school-based setting, have been accessed to engage Latino youth. The specific objectives of this study are threefold: (1) to assess the developmental, cultural, and contextual acceptability and feasibility of the intervention methods and materials; (2) to assess its short-term effectiveness to increase knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and intentions specific to these identified risks, and (3) to determine between study group outcome differences. Based upon the guiding framework of the Social Stress Model (Rhodes & Jessor, 1988), practical goals of the intervention study included: (1) assisting young Latino adolescents to become more consciously aware of their personal choices and responsibilities to engage or not engage in alcohol, tobacco, and drug use; violence/injury; and risky sexual behaviors, while (2) simultaneously empowering them to significantly increase those personal and interpersonal competencies necessary to make healthier choices for successful transition to young adulthood. Through a pre-and post-intervention design, both qualitative and quantitative data will be presented.
Learning Objectives: Participation in this session will provide a better understanding of the important aspects of a meaningful prevention intervention for minority youth: (1). the developmental, cultural, and contextual acceptability and feasibility of the intervention methods and materials; (2) the effectiveness to increase knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and intentions specific to identified risks, and (3) the between study group outcome differences.
Keywords: Youth, Health Education
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Covey Leadership Foundation, 1990, 1995)
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.