| Learning Objective #1: Discuss the sequencing of risk behaviors among adolescents | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Describe the relationship of adolescent risk behaviors and perceived health status |
Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if a pattern of participation in risk behaviors (cigarette use, beer use, delinquency, sexual activity, hard liquor use, illicit drug use) among adolescents exists and to examine the relationship of risk behaviors, demographics, self-esteem, and perceived health status.
Design & Sample: A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was used with a convenience sample of 77 adolescents from an urban Tennessee community with an approximate population of 45,000 persons.
Concepts: The Neuman Systems Model was used to examine perceived health status and self-esteem in relation to progression of risk behaviors. It was possible to determine the degree the subjects' risk behavior progression had possibly been enabled or deterred by their perception of health status and self-esteem.
Methods: Subjects completed a demographics questionnaire, a questionnaire describing risk behavior participation, Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Survey, and the General Health Rating Index. Data analysis consisted of Spearman's rho, correlational analyses, and multiple regression. Seventy-seven subjects provided a power of 0.80, a correlation of 0.30 - 0.35 and a medium size effect of 0.312 with alphas of 0.05, and an explanatory power of 0.80.
Findings: Results indicated the following sequencing: cigarette use, beer use, hard liquor use, sexual activity/experimentation, delinquency, and illicit drug use. A significant relationship exists between cigarette use and perceived health status, suggesting those adolescents who smoked have a lower perceived health status. Cigarette use emerged as the only significant predictor of perceived health status, suggesting cigarette use may be the "gateway behavior" to other risk behaviors.
Conclusions: Major efforts need to be expanded to determine the existence of developmental patterns among risk behaviors in adolescence and preadolescence. Interruption of stage progression is important in that it may prevent advancement to further, greater risk behaviors which are associated with greater health anomalies.
Back to Adolescent Health
Back to 14th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
10-12 July 2003