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. 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. 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]). 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.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 508-514 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Adolescent Health |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1 2015 |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adolescent
- Child and
- Child welfare
- Child welfare investigation
- Foster care
- Health-risk behavior
- National
- Social risk
- Survey of
- Teens
- Well-Being
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Psychiatry and Mental health