The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #53245

Richard A. Crosby, PhD, Emory Center for AIDS Research, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Room 542, Atlanta, GA 30322, 404-712-8514, rcrosby@sph.emory.edu and David Holtgrave, PhD, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Room 540, Atlanta, GA 30322.

Objective: This exploratory study assessed the state-level association between social capital, poverty and income inequality and adolescents' sexual risk and protective behaviors. Design: A cross-sectional study using a statewide measure of social capital based on data collected in the 1990s and measures of adolescents' sexual risk and protective behaviors collected in 1999. Outcome Measures: Seven outcome measures from the national 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey were used. Results: For females and males, social capital was significantly associated with 5 of the 7 outcome measures (all associations P <. 01). For females, the amount of variance explained by these correlations ranged from 23% to 45%; the range for males was 20% to 52%. Alternatively, with the exception using birth control pills, poverty and income were not significantly associated with the outcomes. In multivariate regression analyses, only social capital emerged as a significant predictor using birth control pills (adjusted R2 = .43). Conclusions: Findings provide preliminary evidence that social capital may have a profound influence of adolescents' sexual risk and protective behaviors. Social capital was inversely correlated with sexual risk behaviors and positively correlated with protective sexual behaviors. Further, and more comprehensive, research involving social capital and adolescents is warranted.

Learning Objectives:

• Audience members will be able to articulate the implications of the study findings for the design of multi-level programs that seek to reduce sexual risk behavior among US adolescents.
• Audience members will be able to describe how social capital may influence the effectiveness of STD, HIV, and pregnancy prevention programs for US adolescents.

Keywords: Adolescents, Sexual Risk Behavior

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.