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Elizabeth M. Gaier Larkin, MS, Center for Adolescent Health, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., School of Medicine, WG-48, Cleveland, OH 44106, 216 368-4884, elizabethlarkin@yahoo.com and Scott, H. Frank, MD, MPH, Division of Public Health, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., School of Medicine, WG-57, Cleveland, OH 44106.
Purpose: To determine whether racial diversity in schools impacts the prevalence of health risk behaviors. Methods: 3088 randomly selected students from ten First Ring high schools with similar socioeconomic circumstances were surveyed using the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Each school was categorized as more or less racially diverse than average for the surrounding county. A risk score was constructed and prevalence of risk behaviors were compared to determine whether Caucasian and minority students attending diverse schools (56-60% minority students) exhibit more or less risk behaviors than their counterparts attending predominantly Caucasian schools (6-28% minority students). There were not enough predominantly minority schools in this study to examine the influence of racial diversity on those students. Results: Minority students attending a diverse school exhibited significantly fewer risk behaviors than minority students attending a predominantly Caucasian school (p<0.0005). There was a trend toward fewer overall risk behaviors exhibited by Caucasian students (p=0.07) in diverse schools. Caucasian students attending diverse schools exhibited significantly lower rates of smokeless tobacco use, binge drinking, frequent marijuana use, cocaine use, sexual activity, and poor grades. Minority students attending diverse schools reported lower rates of driving after drinking, gun carrying, tobacco use, alcohol use, marijuana use and other illegal drug use than their counterparts attending predominantly Caucasian schools. No significant health risk benefits were found among students attending predominantly Caucasian schools. Conclusions: This study indicates that students of all races attending schools with similar socioeconomic conditions may receive health risk benefits from racially diverse school environments.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to
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.