Janene Fluhr

School-Related Assets and Youth Risk Behaviors: Alcohol Consumption and Sexual Activity

BACKGROUND Two risk behaviors, alcohol consumption and early initiation of sexual intercourse (ISI), can have devastating consequences for youth. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of school connectedness and school-related behaviors (eg, academic performance, skipping school, getting into trouble at school) with these 2 risk behaviors. METHODS The Youth Asset Survey (YAS) was administered to 1117 youth/parent pairs in their homes using Computer-Assisted Personal/Self-Interviewing (CAPI/CASI). The YAS measures 17 youth assets and risk behaviors including alcohol consumption and sexual activity. RESULTS The mean age of the sample was 14.3 years; 53% were female; and 70% were from 2-parent homes. Five school-related behaviors were positively associated with no ISI. Four school-related behaviors were positively associated with reporting no alcohol consumption in the past 30 days, including the School Connectedness asset (only among 12- to 13-year-olds), not skipping school (only among non-Hispanic Caucasians), staying out of trouble, and paying attention. CONCLUSIONS School is very much a part of the lives of youth and therefore the relationship they have with their school experience is important and may influence their involvement in risk behaviors. Feeling connected to school is a positive asset that can protect youth from such risky behaviors as sexual initiation and alcohol consumption.

A Longitudinal Study of Youth Assets, Neighborhood Conditions, and Youth Sexual Behaviors

PURPOSE To prospectively determine whether individual, family, and community assets help youth to delay initiation of sexual intercourse (ISI); and for youth who do initiate intercourse, to use birth control and avoid pregnancy. The potential influence of neighborhood conditions was also investigated. METHODS The Youth Asset Study was a 4-year longitudinal study involving 1,089 youth (mean age = 14.2 years, standard deviation = 1.6; 53% female; 40% white, 28% Hispanic, 23% African American, 9% other race) and their parents. Participants were living in randomly selected census tracts. We accomplished recruitment via door-to-door canvassing. We interviewed one youth and one parent from each household annually. We assessed 17 youth assets (e.g., responsible choices, family communication) believed to influence behavior at multiple levels via in-person interviews methodology. Trained raters who conducted annual windshield tours assessed neighborhood conditions. RESULTS Cox proportional hazard or marginal logistic regression modeling indicated that 11 assets (e.g., family communication, school connectedness) were significantly associated with reduced risk for ISI; seven assets (e.g., educational aspirations for the future, responsible choices) were significantly associated with increased use of birth control at last sex; and 10 assets (e.g., family communication, school connectedness) were significantly associated with reduced risk for pregnancy. Total asset score was significantly associated with all three outcomes. Positive neighborhood conditions were significantly associated with increased birth control use, but not with ISI or pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS Programming to strengthen youth assets may be a promising strategy for reducing youth sexual risk behaviors.

Methodological considerations in a community-based longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES To describe methodological issues and strategies relevant to conducting a community-based longitudinal study. METHODS Study participants (N=1117 youth/parent pairs) residing in neighborhoods that were randomly selected using a multistage sampling procedure and 2000 census data. Data were collected annually using in-home, in-person, computer-assisted interviewing methods. Numerous retention methods were used to track and retain participants. RESULTS The initial response rate was 61%. The retention rate is 97%, and the valid interview completion rate is 93% after nearly 4 waves of data collection. CONCLUSIONS In order for community-based longitudinal studies to overcome barriers to enrollment and retention, particular attention must be given to appropriate planning and available resources.

Youth Assets and Delayed Coitarche Across Developmental Age Groups

Cross-sectional studies suggest that assets are associated with youth abstinence, but whether these relationships are constant across developmental age groups has not been shown. Data for this study were obtained from two independent datasets collected across a 2-year period using in-person, in-home interviews of youth (52% female; 44% Caucasian, 23% Hispanic, 23% African-American, 10% other) and their parents (N = 2163 youth/parent pairs). Eighty-eight percent of teens aged 12-14 and 58% of teens aged 15-17 reported no sexual intercourse. Individual logistic regression models for assets and abstinence found 5 youth assets with significant adjusted odds ratios for both age groups: Non-Parental Adult Role models; Family Communication; Use of Time (Religion); Responsible Choices; and Peer Role Models. Community Involvement was associated with abstinence for young teens only and Aspirations for the Future and Good Health Practices only for middle teens. These findings can inform policies and programs targeting youth sexual decision-making.

Youth Assets and Sexual Abstinence in Native American Youth

Compared with youth of other races/ethnicities, Native American youth (ages 15–19 years) are more likely to have participated in sexual intercourse, thus placing them at greater risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unintended pregnancies. This studys purpose was to investigate relationships among protective factors (assets) and sexual intercourse in a Native American youth population. Data were collected from Native American youth and their parents (N=126 youth/parent pairs) living in randomly-selected households using in-person, in-home interview methods. Nine youth assets were the independent variables and never had sexual intercourse was the dependent variable. Data were analyzed using logistic regression. One significant (p<.05) asset main effect and one asset by youth age interaction were found. Youth with the Non-Parental Adult Role Models asset were 3.8 times more likely to have never had sex compared with youth without the asset. Further study of the influence of protective factors among Native American youth is warranted.

Parental youth assets and sexual activity: differences by race/ethnicity.

OBJECTIVES To examine how the relationship between parental-related youth assets and youth sexual activity differed by race/ethnicity. METHODS A random sample of 976 youth and their parents living in a Midwestern city participated in the study. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted for 3 major ethnic groups controlling for the other demographics. RESULTS Parental monitoring had the strongest association with sexual abstinence for all 3 ethnic/racial groups. Family communication and relationship with mother were also important for white and black youth respectively. CONCLUSIONS Parental youth assets, especially parental monitoring, can be important in the decision to delay sexual intercourse.

A Collaborative Approach to Program Evaluation of Community-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Projects

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate a model for collaboration between program providers and program evaluators. The article describes how university-based evaluators, a state health department, and local program providers collaborated to evaluate 12 projects implementing commercially developed teenage pregnancy prevention (TPP) programs in school settings. Approximately 2,200 students participate annually in the programs. Program evaluation staff and local program providers worked together to construct logic models that helped guide the intervention and evaluation design. The local providers also participated in training sessions, conducted by the evaluation team, to increase their understanding and skills related to program evaluation methods. Student-level outcomes related to knowledge, attitudes, skills, behaviors, as well as an assessment of curricula fidelity were included in the evaluation. The result of this collaborative model has been a quality program evaluation for the projects while maintaining community input regarding program improvements that reflect local population needs.

Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention in Group Homes: Recruiting and Retention Considerations

The authors discuss the issues of teenage pregnancy for youth in group homes. They mention the use of the Power Through Choices intervention program for prevention of pregnancy, the recruitment of group homes in which to implement the program, and the problems of tracking participants in the program.