TY - JOUR
T1 - A Longitudinal Study of Sexual Risk Behavior Among the Adolescent Children of HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Drug-Abusing Fathers
AU - Brook, David W.
AU - Brook, Judith S.
AU - Rubenstone, Elizabeth
AU - Zhang, Chenshu
AU - Finch, Stephen J.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by grants DA 09950 and DA 11116 to Dr. David W. Brook from the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health, and by Research Scientist Award DA 00244 to Dr. Judith S. Brook. The authors gratefully acknowledge Connie Gerochi's invaluable assistance with the data editing and administration of this project.
PY - 2010/3
Y1 - 2010/3
N2 - Purpose: This is a longitudinal study of the precursors of sexual risk behavior among a cohort of adolescent children of HIV-positive and HIV-negative drug-abusing or drug-dependent fathers. Methods: Individual structured interviews were administered to 296 drug-abusing or drug-dependent fathers, 43% of whom were HIV positive, and an adolescent child of each father (mean age = 16.3 years; SD = 2.8). Adolescents were reinterviewed approximately 1 year later, at Time 2. Results: Structural equation modeling showed multiple direct and indirect pathways from psychosocial factors to adolescent sexual risk behavior (sexually active, number of sexual partners, and frequency of condom use). Greater paternal drug addiction and infection with HIV/AIDS, and the youth's perception of environmental hostility (discrimination and victimization), were both related to increased adolescent maladjustment and substance use. Greater paternal drug addiction and infection with HIV/AIDS also were associated with a weaker father-child mutual attachment, which was linked with increased adolescent maladjustment and substance use. Greater perceived environmental hostility (discrimination and victimization), a weak father-child relationship, and greater adolescent maladjustment and substance use had direct pathways to adolescent sexual risk behavior. Conclusions: Findings suggest complex interrelationships among paternal, environmental, social, personal, and substance use factors as longitudinal predictors of sexual risk behavior in children whose fathers abuse or are dependent upon drugs. The importance of perceived environmental hostility, the father-child relationship, and adolescent maladjustment and substance use may have implications for public policy as well as prevention and treatment programs.
AB - Purpose: This is a longitudinal study of the precursors of sexual risk behavior among a cohort of adolescent children of HIV-positive and HIV-negative drug-abusing or drug-dependent fathers. Methods: Individual structured interviews were administered to 296 drug-abusing or drug-dependent fathers, 43% of whom were HIV positive, and an adolescent child of each father (mean age = 16.3 years; SD = 2.8). Adolescents were reinterviewed approximately 1 year later, at Time 2. Results: Structural equation modeling showed multiple direct and indirect pathways from psychosocial factors to adolescent sexual risk behavior (sexually active, number of sexual partners, and frequency of condom use). Greater paternal drug addiction and infection with HIV/AIDS, and the youth's perception of environmental hostility (discrimination and victimization), were both related to increased adolescent maladjustment and substance use. Greater paternal drug addiction and infection with HIV/AIDS also were associated with a weaker father-child mutual attachment, which was linked with increased adolescent maladjustment and substance use. Greater perceived environmental hostility (discrimination and victimization), a weak father-child relationship, and greater adolescent maladjustment and substance use had direct pathways to adolescent sexual risk behavior. Conclusions: Findings suggest complex interrelationships among paternal, environmental, social, personal, and substance use factors as longitudinal predictors of sexual risk behavior in children whose fathers abuse or are dependent upon drugs. The importance of perceived environmental hostility, the father-child relationship, and adolescent maladjustment and substance use may have implications for public policy as well as prevention and treatment programs.
KW - Adolescent sexual risk behavior
KW - Discrimination and victimization
KW - Father-child attachment
KW - HIV-affected children
KW - Paternal HIV/AIDS
KW - Paternal drug abuse
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.07.001
DO - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.07.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 20159498
AN - SCOPUS:76249093177
SN - 1054-139X
VL - 46
SP - 224
EP - 231
JO - Journal of Adolescent Health
JF - Journal of Adolescent Health
IS - 3
ER -