Adolescents’ Discussions about Health-Promoting and Health-Risk Behaviors: Does It Matter Who They’re Talking To? Laura A. Curry, PhD Lise M. Youngblade, PhD Volusia County Schools Human Development & Family Studies Psychology, Stetson University Colorado State University Deland, Florida INTRODUCTION METHODS Table 1. Influence of adolescents’ discussions about HPB and HRB with parents and peers on perceived risk of risk behaviors: With and without moderators (standardized regression coefficients) Predictors Main Effects Moderating Effects of Age Moderating Effects of Race Age 0.12 * 0.17& 0.04& Gender (1=female) 0.02& 0.13 * 0.11# Race (1=African-American) -0.21 * -0.19 * -0.43 * Household Status (1= 2-parent) 0.07& Discussions with parents (DPar) 0.13 # 2.15 * 0.23 * Discussions with peers (DPeer) -0.22 * -1.61 * -0.12& Age x DPar n/a& -1.94 * Age x DPeer 1.43 * Race x DPar 0.08& Race x DPeer 0.27 * F 4.69* 5.79* 5.41* df (6, 283) (8, 281) R2 0.09 0.14 0.13 Researchers have identified protective factors such as parental attachment and risk factors such as negative peer influence related to adolescent risk behavior ARB (Byrnes, 2002; Jessor, 1992). When youth have supportive relationships with their parents within which they can discuss issues related to ARB, they are less likely to engage in such behavior (Evans, 2005; Henrich et al., 2006). Unfortunately, some have found that supportive relationships with peers predict increased likelihood of ARB such as substance use (Henrich et al., 2006). Evidence has also evinced a relationship between adolescents’ perceptions of risk and engagement in ARB (Goldberg et al., 2002). However, research on the influence that parent-adolescent and peer-adolescent discussions about health-promoting (HPB) and health-risk behaviors (HRB) have on adolescents’ risk perceptions is lacking. STUDY GOALS To examine how the extent to which adolescents discuss issues related to healthy and risky behaviors with parents and peers affect their perceptions of risk related to risk behaviors. We also looked at how these effects varied across age, gender, and race. SAMPLE 290 adolescents from low-income families aged 13 to 19 (M = 14.98; SD = 1.56) at Time 1 164 (57%) were age 15 or older and 173 (60%) were female 15% (n=44) were African-American 61% (n=176) lived in 2-parent households MEASURES (Telephone survey) Time 1 measures: Extent of adolescent-parent discussions about HRB and HPB Extent of adolescent-peer discussions about HRB and HPB Discussion measures were from the Youth Adolescent Healthcare Survey (YAHCS), and included 20 items each (e.g., During the past year did you talk to your parents/friends about your weight, your emotions/moods, school performance, sexual activity, violence, cigarette, alcohol, or drug use). Socio-demographic information (age, gender, race, household status) Time 2 measures (1 year later): Risk Perceptions of ARB (6 items, (Benthin et al., 1993) e.g., perceived likelihood that something bad would happen if they smoked cigarettes, stole from a store, had unprotected sex) Note. * p < .05; # p < .10. RESULTS CONCLUSIONS Table 1 shows that: Younger adolescents (aged 13-15) who discussed HPB and HRB with parents perceived greater risks associated with risk behaviors. Discussions with peers predicted lesser perceived risk of risk behaviors, especially for younger and non-AA youth. Unexpectedly, we found no gender differences in the effects of these discussions on perceptions of risk. Younger adolescents perceived greater risk associated with RB than did older adolescents. Compared to other adolescents, African-American youth perceived lesser risk associated with RB. The information that adolescents get from parents and peers about the dangers of risk behaviors is likely to be inconsistent. Specifically, discussions with parents were related to adolescents’ heightened awareness of risks, and those with peers were related to lesser perceived risks. The results also suggest that educational programs that focus on the dangers of RBs will be most effective when younger adolescents are targeted. Alternative programs may be necessary to increase the awareness and appreciation of risks among older and African-American youth. Perhaps discussions that adolescents have with their friends are more often about the logistics and positive consequences of RBs. Future research is needed to understand exactly what teens are learning from their friends, so that parents and teachers could balance these discussions with accurate information about the dangers and negative consequences of such behavior. HYPOTHESES Adolescents who discussed HPB and HRB with parents would perceive greater risk related to risk behaviors. Adolescents who discussed HPB and HRB with peers would perceive lesser risk related to risk behaviors. Discussions with parents and peers would be more influential for girls and for younger adolescents. The influence of discussions with parents and peers would vary by race. This study was supported through a grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), US Dept of Health and Human Services (R03 HS013261) to the second author.
Adolescents’ Discussions about Health-Promoting and Health-Risk Behaviors: Does It Matter Who They’re Talking To? Laura A. Curry, PhD Lise M. Youngblade, PhD Volusia County Schools Human Development & Family Studies Psychology, Stetson University Colorado State University Deland, Florida INTRODUCTION METHODS Table 1. Influence of adolescents’ discussions about HPB and HRB with parents and peers on perceived risk of risk behaviors: With and without moderators (standardized regression coefficients) Predictors Main Effects Moderating Effects of Age Moderating Effects of Race Age 0.12 * 0.17& 0.04& Gender (1=female) 0.02& 0.13 * 0.11# Race (1=African-American) -0.21 * -0.19 * -0.43 * Household Status (1= 2-parent) 0.07& Discussions with parents (DPar) 0.13 # 2.15 * 0.23 * Discussions with peers (DPeer) -0.22 * -1.61 * -0.12& Age x DPar n/a& -1.94 * Age x DPeer 1.43 * Race x DPar 0.08& Race x DPeer 0.27 * F 4.69* 5.79* 5.41* df (6, 283) (8, 281) R2 0.09 0.14 0.13 Researchers have identified protective factors such as parental attachment and risk factors such as negative peer influence related to adolescent risk behavior ARB (Byrnes, 2002; Jessor, 1992). When youth have supportive relationships with their parents within which they can discuss issues related to ARB, they are less likely to engage in such behavior (Evans, 2005; Henrich et al., 2006). Unfortunately, some have found that supportive relationships with peers predict increased likelihood of ARB such as substance use (Henrich et al., 2006). Evidence has also evinced a relationship between adolescents’ perceptions of risk and engagement in ARB (Goldberg et al., 2002). However, research on the influence that parent-adolescent and peer-adolescent discussions about health-promoting (HPB) and health-risk behaviors (HRB) have on adolescents’ risk perceptions is lacking. STUDY GOALS To examine how the extent to which adolescents discuss issues related to healthy and risky behaviors with parents and peers affect their perceptions of risk related to risk behaviors. We also looked at how these effects varied across age, gender, and race. SAMPLE 290 adolescents from low-income families aged 13 to 19 (M = 14.98; SD = 1.56) at Time 1 164 (57%) were age 15 or older and 173 (60%) were female 15% (n=44) were African-American 61% (n=176) lived in 2-parent households MEASURES (Telephone survey) Time 1 measures: Extent of adolescent-parent discussions about HRB and HPB Extent of adolescent-peer discussions about HRB and HPB Discussion measures were from the Youth Adolescent Healthcare Survey (YAHCS), and included 20 items each (e.g., During the past year did you talk to your parents/friends about your weight, your emotions/moods, school performance, sexual activity, violence, cigarette, alcohol, or drug use). Socio-demographic information (age, gender, race, household status) Time 2 measures (1 year later): Risk Perceptions of ARB (6 items, (Benthin et al., 1993) e.g., perceived likelihood that something bad would happen if they smoked cigarettes, stole from a store, had unprotected sex) Note. * p < .05; # p < .10. RESULTS CONCLUSIONS Table 1 shows that: Younger adolescents (aged 13-15) who discussed HPB and HRB with parents perceived greater risks associated with risk behaviors. Discussions with peers predicted lesser perceived risk of risk behaviors, especially for younger and non-AA youth. Unexpectedly, we found no gender differences in the effects of these discussions on perceptions of risk. Younger adolescents perceived greater risk associated with RB than did older adolescents. Compared to other adolescents, African-American youth perceived lesser risk associated with RB. The information that adolescents get from parents and peers about the dangers of risk behaviors is likely to be inconsistent. Specifically, discussions with parents were related to adolescents’ heightened awareness of risks, and those with peers were related to lesser perceived risks. The results also suggest that educational programs that focus on the dangers of RBs will be most effective when younger adolescents are targeted. Alternative programs may be necessary to increase the awareness and appreciation of risks among older and African-American youth. Perhaps discussions that adolescents have with their friends are more often about the logistics and positive consequences of RBs. Future research is needed to understand exactly what teens are learning from their friends, so that parents and teachers could balance these discussions with accurate information about the dangers and negative consequences of such behavior. HYPOTHESES Adolescents who discussed HPB and HRB with parents would perceive greater risk related to risk behaviors. Adolescents who discussed HPB and HRB with peers would perceive lesser risk related to risk behaviors. Discussions with parents and peers would be more influential for girls and for younger adolescents. The influence of discussions with parents and peers would vary by race. This study was supported through a grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), US Dept of Health and Human Services (R03 HS013261) to the second author.