@article{ref1,
title="Health-Risk Behaviors in Teens Investigated by U.S. Child Welfare Agencies",
journal="Journal of Adolescent Health",
year="2015",
author="Heneghan, Amy and Stein, Ruth E. K. and Hurlburt, Michael S. and Zhang, Jinjin and Rolls-Reutz, Jennifer and Kerker, Bonnie D. and Landsverk, John and McCue Horwitz, Sarah",
volume="56",
number="5",
pages="508-514",
abstract="PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine prevalence and correlates of health-risk behaviors in 12- to 17.5-year-olds investigated by child welfare and compare risk-taking over time and with a national school-based sample. <br><br>METHODS: Data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW II) were analyzed to examine substance use, sexual activity, conduct behaviors, and suicidality. In a weighted sample of 815 adolescents aged 12-17.5 years, prevalence and correlates for each health-risk behavior were calculated using bivariate analyses. Comparisons to data from NSCAW I and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey were made for each health-risk behavior. <br><br>RESULTS: Overall, 65.6% of teens reported at least one health-risk behavior with significantly more teens in the 15- to 17.5-year age group reporting such behaviors (81.2% vs. 54.4%; p ≤.001). Almost 75% of teens with a prior out-of-home placement and 77% of teens with child behavior checklist scores ≥64 reported at least one health-risk behavior. The prevalence of smoking was lower than in NSCAW I (10.5% vs. 23.2%; p ≤.05) as was that of sexual activity (18.0% vs. 28.8%; p ≤.05). Prevalence of health-risk behaviors was lower among older teens in the NSCAW II sample (n = 358) compared with those of the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System high school-based sample with the exception of suicidality, which was approximately 1.5 times higher (11.3% [95% confidence interval, 6.5-19.0] vs. 7.8% [95% confidence interval, 7.1-8.5]). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Health-risk behaviors in this population of vulnerable teens are highly prevalent. Early efforts for screening and interventions should be part of routine child welfare services monitoring.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1054-139X",
doi="10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.01.007",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.01.007"
}