Citation

Culyba AJ, Ginsburg KR, Fein JA, Branas CC, Richmond TS, Wiebe DJ. J. Adolesc. Health 2016; 58(2): 237-240.

Affiliation

Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.10.247

PMID

26802994

PMCID

PMC4724385

Abstract

PURPOSE: Positive adult connection has been linked with protective effects among U.S. adolescents. Less is known about the impact of adult connection across multiple health domains for youth in low-resource urban environments. We examined the associations between adult connection and school performance, substance use, and violence exposure among youth in low-resource neighborhoods.

METHODS: We recruited a population-based random sample of 283 male adolescents in Philadelphia. Age-adjusted logistic regression tested whether positive adult connection promoted school performance and protected against substance use and violence exposure.

RESULTS: Youth with a positive adult connection had significantly higher odds of good school performance (odds ratio [OR], 2.8; p <.05), and lower odds of alcohol use (OR,.4; p <.05), violence involvement (OR,.3-.4; p <.05), and violence witnessing (OR,.3; p <.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Promoting adult connection may help safeguard youth in urban contexts. Youth-serving professionals should consider assessing adult connection as part of a strengths-based approach to health promotion for youth in low-resource neighborhoods.

Language: en