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Abstract
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Boston University's Youth at Risk (URISK) program is working to reduce five high-risk behaviors: violence, sexual activity, drinking, illicit drug use, and smoking, among inner-city public middle-school students, grades 6-8. To set program priorities and for subsequent program evaluation, students in four schools completed a self-report questionnaire. Violence (physical fighting or carrying a knife or a gun) and sexual activity were the most commonly reported risks, 54% and 38%, respectively, for such activity within the past year. Four-fifths of the students reported risk in at least one of the five risk categories at some time; two-thirds reported current risk in at least one category. Among those reporting two or more current risks, over 90% included violence, and over 80% included sexual activity. Except for smoking, risk rates were lower in females than in males. Risk rates for violence and drug use were similar among blacks and whites, while sexual activity was more common and drinking and smoking less common among blacks compared with whites. Rates for all high-risk behaviors were consistently lower for Hispanics than non-Hispanic whites. Risk rates for violence were similar for grades 6-8. Sexual activity increased mainly from the 7th to the 8th grade. Drinking increased both from the 6th to the 7th grade and again from the 7th to the 8th grade. Drug use and smoking increased only from the 6th to the 7th grade.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this article by Vanderschmidt et al, was to investigate the prevalence of five high-risk behaviors of middle-school students including violence, drinking, smoking, sexual activity, and drug use.
METHODOLOGY:
A quasi-experimental, cross-sectional design was used for this study. Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders from four public schools in an inner-city area in the Northeast, completed a self-report survey questionnaire of their own risk behaviors. The response rate was 82%. 1,420 responses were included for analysis and balanced representation of gender and school grade was achieved. Ninety-two percent of the sample were from minority groups. Each parent received a consent form. The questionnaire included 37 questions, all refined by pretests and focus group interviews, and a closed-ended multiple-choice design was used for reliability. The questions focused on the five risks and the response patterns were studied to identify no risk ("never") and past or current risk ("ever"). For each high risk category, a population prevalence rate was calculated for the four schools and the three grades. The effects of gender, race, and grade were also calculated.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The young teens surveyed were at risk with many engaging in high-risk behaviors. The data showed that 54% of the students reported some type of violence in the last year, and 38% engaged in sexual activities in the same time period. Forty-nine percent were "ever" at risk of drinking and 46% were "ever" at risk for sexual activity. In addition, 30% carried a knife and 11% carried a gun in the last year. Ten percent of the middle-schoolers smoked marijuana in the past month. Many students engaged in multiple risks. The authors argued that for those with two high-risk behaviors, 71% of them included sexual activity, and 80% were involved in violent behaviors. The gender analysis showed that females were less likely than males to be involved in all the risk behaviors, except smoking cigarettes. For race, blacks were less likely to smoke or drink than non-Hispanic whites, but more likely to be engaged in sexual activity. Hispanics were less likely to be involved in all of the risk behaviors than non-Hispanic whites. Finally, the school grade data showed that violence rates were unchanged from grades 6 to 8, drinking increased 3%-4% from each grade, drug use increased from 6th to 7th, but not from 7th to 8th, and sexual activities increased 4% from 6th to 7th, and 12% from 7th to 8th.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
The authors suggested that, since high-risk behavior starts early, preventive work is more effective with younger students. The results that showed changes in behavior from one grade to another can help with the targeting of prevention programs. The researchers recommended that violence prevention programs should start at the elementary school level and sexual activity prevention programs should be geared to 6th and 7th graders. Also, they argued that drinking reduction efforts can be aimed at all middle-school grades and cigarette smoking and drug use prevention programs should be directed at the 6th grade, or younger. The authors recommended that the emphasis should be on reducing the risk of violence and sexual activity, as those two behaviors were the most prevalent in the study. Finally, the study noted that health education and positive alternatives to these behaviors should be primary preventive measures.
(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)
Early Adolescence
Late Childhood
Junior High School Student
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Juvenile Behavior
Juvenile Substance Use
Juvenile Sexual Activity
Juvenile Sexual Behavior
Juvenile Offender
Juvenile Violence
High Risk Behavior
Violence Incidence and Prevalence
Substance Use Incidence and Prevalence
Alcohol Use Incidence and Prevalence
Drug Use Incidence and Prevalence
Tobacco Use Incidence and Prevalence
Sexual Activity Incidence and Prevalence
Smoking
Behavior Incidence and Prevalence |