NCJ Number
186134
Date Published
2000
Length
41 pages
Annotation
Race, ethnicity, income, and family structure represent contexts that affect the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of young people, and these contexts are relevant to the prevalence of adolescent drinking, smoking, violence, suicide risk, and sexual activity because they encompass risk and protective factors.
Abstract
Risk factors are associated with an increased likelihood of substance use, early sex, violence, and other behaviors by adolescents, while protective factors are associated with reduced risk of engaging in problem behaviors. To examine the racial and ethnic identities of adolescents, income, and family structure, a survey of adolescents was conducted. The survey explored the relationships among these variables in terms of adolescent health risk behaviors (cigarette use, alcohol use, suicide risk, violence involving weapons, and sexual intercourse). Survey findings showed adolescents who had problems in school were more likely than others to experience or be involved with all health risk behaviors. Adolescents who spent a lot of time "just hanging out" with friends, especially friends involved in a specific risk behavior, were more likely to be involved themselves. The drinking behavior of friends was strongly associated with adolescent drinking and weapon-related violence. No protective factor cut across all health risk behaviors, but the one most consistent protective factor was the presence of a positive parent-family relationship. Tables, figures, and photographs