NCJ Number
191677
Journal
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 30 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2001 Pages: 707-728
Editor(s)
Daniel Offer
Date Published
2001
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This study addressed interrelationships between different types of health risk behaviors among adolescents.
Abstract
The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (ADD Health) Research Team conducted this study based on a national sample of high school students through out the United States. The study included high risk behaviors in sexual activity, general alcohol use, binge drinking, cigarette use, marijuana, other drugs, fighting, and suicide. Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics were also taken into consideration. SAS was used to interpret the cluster analysis, and from this information profiles were produced. From this study the following was concluded. Overall, adolescents in the ninth through twelfth grade had low risk profiles, 60 percent females and 66 percent males. Those in the high- risk profile group made up a small number of students, 8 percent females and 12 percent males. The study demonstrated that there were links between two or three risk behaviors simultaneously, and single behavior syndromes did not exist in isolation. The authors acknowledged several limitations in this study. First, the study did not include adolescents who may be out of school. Second, only cross-sectional relationships between risk behaviors were observed; therefore, behavioral patterns may change and not get documented. Despite these limitations, the authors believed that useful policy implications can be drawn. The authors suggest that prevention and educational programs should continue, but that to successfully reduce risk behaviors and negative consequences, multi-behaviors should be targeted and prevention techniques should be gender specific. Tables, charts, graphs, and references