Recorded presentation

Julia C. Gage, MPH¹, Mary D Overpeck, DrPH¹, Tonja R. Nansel, PhD², and Michael D. Kogan, PhD¹. (1) Maternal and Child Health Bureau/Office of Data and Information Management, Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 18-41, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-443-0701, jgage@hrsa.gov, (2) Division of Epidemiology, Statistics, and Prevention Research/Prevention Research Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 6100 Executive Blvd., Rm 7B05, MSC 7510, Bethesda, MD 20892-7510

Objective: We examined the extent to which spending free time with peers during the evenings is associated with involvement in aggressive behaviors and substance use in youth, grades 6-10. Methods: Cross-sectional self-report data from the 2001-2002 Health Behaviors of School-aged Children (HBSC) Survey was analyzed to assess the relationship of evenings spent out with friends with aggressive behaviors and substance use. Results: Findings indicate that 3.5 million 11-16 year olds spend five or more evenings out with friends each week. After adjusting for grade, race/ethnicity, parental education, parental involvement, and perception of neighborhood safety, boys and girls who spent five or more evenings out with friends were 4.3 and 3.1 times, respectively, more likely to be involved in 4 or more physical fights in the past year; 2.7 and 4.9 times more likely to have carried a weapon 6 or more days in the past month; and 3.8 and 4.8 times more likely to consume alcohol at least once a month than boys and girls who spent less than two evenings out with friends each week. Among students spending 5 or more evenings out with friends, those who were frequently involved in problem behavior had a lower perception of neighborhood safety and reported less parental involvement. Conclusions: One-fifth of youth surveyed spent five or more evenings out with friends each week. While the majority of these youth do not frequently participate in aggressive behaviors or substance use (69.7%), their consistently increased risk warrants attention.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the extent to which youth spend evenings out with friends and the problem behaviors associated with this activity.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, 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.

Recorded presentation