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Abstract
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PURPOSE: The study surveyed adolescents in juvenile detention facilities to determine the incidence of health risk behaviors. METHODS: A modified version of the United States Centers for Disease Control Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System was administered to 1801 minors at 39 facilities in the United States. RESULTS: Risky behavior begins early, the initiation plateauing at age 15 or 16 years. Girls and boys reported comparable rates of drinking, binge drinking, and illicit drug use. North American Natives and those individuals who designated themselves as being other than any of the offered choices for racial designation ("Other") began drinking at earlier ages, had more binge drinking, more illegal drug use, and the most fight-related behavior. By age 12 years 62% reported onset of sexual intercourse and by age 14 years 89% were sexually active. Fighting was reported by 69% of detainees. Fight-related injuries within the past year were reported by 25% of the respondents. Nearly 47% belonged to a gang. Drug/alcohol use, fighting, and gang membership were related. Suicide was considered by 22% of the detainees, planned by 20%, tried by 16%, 8% were injured because of a suicide attempt. Younger teens (White, N.A. Natives, and "Other") had the most frequent suicide ideation. Drug/alcohol use correlated with suicidal thoughts. Onset of sexual intercourse was at an average age of 12. Multiple partners and pregnancy, was highest among blacks and "Others". Blacks had the highest sexually transmitted disease (STD) rate. Less than half of all respondents used condoms at last intercourse. STDs were related to being female, being black, and having multiple sexual partners. Pregnancy was related to multiple sexual partners and violent behavior. CONCLUSION: Male and female detainees report a high incidence and early onset of risky behaviors. N.A. Natives and those of "other" races reported the highest incidence of risk behaviors.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study by Morris et al. was to determine the incidence of health risk behaviors among adolescents in juvenile detention facilities.
METHODOLOGY:
The authors employed a quasi-experimental survey design in this study. Exactly 1,801 juveniles in 39 juvenile detention facilities were interviewed via a questionnaire. Initially, 44 facilities had been randomly chosen to participate, but five declined because of understaffing. This questionnaire was pretested by 100 youth in detention centers and appropriate clarifications and alterations were made before the main interviews began. Specific measures were not discussed by the authors. However, they did comment that the questionnaire was based on the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). Questionnaires were administered by the medical staff in the facilities. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. Virtually all of the minors in these facilities participated in the survey. 451 respondents came from short-term facilities and 1,350 came from long-term facilities. The average age of respondents was 15. Most respondents were males. The authors presented no specific hypotheses other than simply describing the level of health risk behaviors present in this population. The authors used Wilcoxon tests as well as logistic regression techniques to analyze the data.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
First, the authors examined drinking and smoking behavior. Results showed that most tried smoking by age twelve. Whites were found to start the earliest. Drinking among the subjects was found to be universal by age fifteen. Results showed that one third of whites and 'other' (i.e., Native Americans, Native Alaskans, Hispanics, and Asians) began drinking before age nine. More than half of the juveniles reported binge drinking. Native Americans reported the greatest frequency of binge drinking. Whites reported beginning high frequency drinking and binge drinking earliest. Nevertheless, none of the above findings were statistically significant. No significant gender differences were found.
Second, the authors examined drug use. Marijuana was the most used drug in this population. Girls used more cocaine and crack as well as injected more than boys. Cocaine use was reported by all ethnic groups except African-Americans and Asians. Crack use was highest among Native Americans and lowest among African-Americans. The racial group with the greatest frequency of marijuana use was also Native Americans. Asians reported the lowest. Native Americans also reported the most frequent use of cocaine and crack. African-Americans and Asians reported the least. However, none of these findings were statistically significant.
Third, the authors examined violence. Data showed that reports of violence were frequent among the subjects and these violent incidences frequently involved weapons. Results showed that a greater number of fights was significantly associated with weapon use. Data showed that there were no gender differences in the number of fights. However, boys were significantly more likely to be involved in fights with weapons. Native Americans as well as the remainder of the 'other' category were significantly more likely to report involvement in violent episodes. More drug users than non-users reported involvement in violence. However, this difference was not statistically significant.
Fourth, the authors examined gang involvement. Almost half of the respondents reported that they were gang members. Most reported joining gangs before they were fifteen. More boys reported membership as well as a greater percentage of Asians. Whites reported the least gang membership. Gang membership was found to be significantly associated with incarceration, fighting, using a weapon, earlier onset of sexual activity, decreased use of birth control, fathering a child, and alcohol and drug use.
The authors also examined suicidal thoughts and sexual experiences. Respondents reported frequent suicidal thoughts. Females were significantly more likely to be involved in suicide attempts and ideation. Native Americans reported the most frequent suicide attempts while African-Americans reported the least. Youth and gang membership was also shown to be significantly associated with suicide ideation and attempts. With regard to sexual experiences, fewer girls reported involvement. However, this difference was not statistically significant. Sexual activity was reported to be equal among racial groups however, nearly all Native Americans reported sexual activity before age twelve.
Lastly, the authors examined the risk factors associated with sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and at least one pregnancy. Results showed that respondents who were female, African-American, had eleven or more sexual partners, were sexual abused, had any past pregnancy, used alcohol and injected drugs were significantly more likely to report STD's. Results also showed that respondents who were young, had been involved in fights with weapons, were gang members, used cocaine, had two or more sexual partner, had STD's and did not use a condom were more likely to have been involved in at least one pregnancy. To conclude the authors reported that health risk behaviors were equally common among all regions in the country.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
Given the finding that youth in these facilities engage in many health risk behaviors as well as begin these behaviors at an earlier age, the authors recommended that efforts at prevention must begin early.
EVALUATION:
Overall, this study makes a sound contribution to the literature on the criminal justice system and the population of youth that become a part of this system. Its greatest strength is its design and its success at mapping out the prevalence of health risk behaviors among young people who occupy correctional facilities. This study will find its widest appeal not among criminological researchers as much as criminal justice analysts and correctional system management.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
Juvenile Correctional Institution
Juvenile Inmate
Inmate Studies
Incarcerated
Juvenile Behavior
Health Risk Behavior
National Survey
Juvenile Sexual Activity
Juvenile Sexual Behavior
Smoking
Tobacco Use
Alcohol Use
Drug Use
Juvenile Substance Use
Juvenile Violence
Juvenile Offender
Fighting Behavior
Juvenile Gang
Language: en |