The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #42767

Michelle C. Kegler, DrPH¹, Roy F. Oman, PhD², Sara K Vesely, PhD³, Kenneth R. McLeroy, PhD⁴, Cheryl Aspy, PhD⁵, LaDonna Marshall⁶, and Sharon Rodine, MEd⁶. (1) Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, 404/712-9957, mkegler@sph.emory.edu, (2) Department of Health Promotion Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, P.O. Box 26901, Rm. 369, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, (3) Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, PO Box 26901, CHB, Room 309, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, (4) School of Rural Public Health, 260 Centeq Building, College Station, TX 77843, (5) Family Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, PO Box 26901, Oklahoma City, OK 73109, (6) HEART of OKC Project, Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, 420 N.W. 13th St., #101, Oklahoma City, OK 73103

Recent research suggests that a youth development framework emphasizing youth and family assets may be a promising intervention strategy for preventing risk behaviors. Understanding how neighborhood resources relate to youth assets may aid in identifying environmental strategies to complement youth and family-based asset-building interventions. The HEART of OKC project, designed to build assets in youth, is one of 13 CDC-funded projects as part of a national teen pregnancy prevention initiative. As part of the evaluation of the HEART of OKC, 1,350 randomly selected inner-city youth and their parents (paired interviews) were interviewed in-person in their homes. The purpose of the study was to examine relationships among ten youth assets and several risk behaviors, as well as relationships among community and neighborhood characteristics and youth assets. Participating parents were asked their opinions of seventeen neighborhood resources. Factor analysis of these items identified two underlying constructs: 1) neighborhood-level services, and 2) neighborhood-level crime and safety. Chi-square tests of independence show that neighborhood resources categorized as good government services (e.g., sanitation, police, fire, etc.) were associated with two youth assets: non-parental adult role models and use of time (groups/sports) (p<.05). Safety-related resources were significantly associated with four assets: peer role models, use of time (groups/sports), use of time (religion), and community involvement (p<.05). These findings suggest that neighborhood-level influences should be considered when designing interventions to reduce risk behaviors by strengthening youth and family assets.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• discuss how neighborhood resources are related to youth assets; and
• discuss how neighborhood-level influences should be considered when designing interventions to reduce risk behaviors.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.