 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Karin Coyle, PhD1, Leah Robin, PhD2, Stephen Banspach, PhD3, Douglas Kirby, PhD1, and Scott Carvajal, PhD4. (1) Research Department, ETR Associates, 4 Carbonero Way, Scotts Valley, CA 95066, 831 438 4060, karinc@etr.org, (2) Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS K-33, Atlanta, GA 30341, (3) Division of Adolescent and School Health, CDC, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS-K33, Atlanta, GA 30341, (4) Mexican American Studies and Research Center, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210023, Economics Bldg. 23, Room 208b, Tucson, AZ 85721/0023
Relatively few studies have examined the risk profiles of youth in alternative school settings. This study examines theoretically based predictors of sexual risk behavior among this important population. Study data were collected from 988 youth in alternative schools via self-report using trained data collectors. We used regression analyses to examine the influence of selected factors on lifetime sexual intercourse and condom use at last intercourse. The predictors of interest were analyzed three ways: (1) individually, (2) as related groups including a demographic group (e.g., age, gender); a general psychosocial group (e.g., optimism, fatalism); and a behavior-specific group (e.g., self efficacy, norms); and (3) simultaneously in a full model. The results suggest that, in general, the behavior-specific predictors were among the most consistent and strongest predictors of sexual risk behavior as compared with the demographic and general psychosocial predictors. Nonetheless, the pattern of predictors differed for each outcome variable. For example, for ever had vaginal sex, perceived norms and attitudes toward sex were significant predictors in the full model (p < 0.01 and 0.001, respectively), and refusal self-efficacy was not. For condom use at last intercourse perceived self-efficacy to use condoms and general attitudes toward condoms were statistically significant (p < 0.001), but condom use norms were not. This study suggests that prevention programs aimed to reduce sexual risk-taking behaviors may benefit by focusing more heavily on the antecedents most predictive of the target behavior—norms and attitudes about sex and condom attitudes and condom use self-efficacy.
Learning Objectives:
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.