Predicting adolescent risk behaviors based on an ecological framework and assets.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between an aggregate risk score (smoking, drinking, and number of sex partners) and measures of youth assets in a sample of 3439 youth aged 14-18 years. METHODS: Linear regression models for African American and white males and females predicted an aggregate risk score. RESULTS: After adjustments, the youth asset most predictive of risk was self/peer values regarding risk behaviors. Perceived school support was also predictive. CONCLUSIONS: Taking an ecological approach to the measurement of adolescent health behaviors contributes to our understanding of these risk behaviors.

The Program Plan Index: an evaluation tool for assessing the quality of adolescent pregnancy prevention program plans.

To assess process, impacts, and outcomes among 45 distinct county teen pregnancy prevention initiatives, several standardized data collection procedures, instruments, and protocols were developed including the Program Plan Index (PPI). The PPI was developed to determine if program plans met legislative requirements and were consistent with best practices in public health program planning and teen pregnancy prevention. Analysis of proposals from 45 counties revealed that 12 county plans were evaluated as deficient, 14 as low, 14 as acceptable, 4 as good, and 1 as excellent. Explanations for overall performance included the following: criteria used to develop the PPI based on an in-depth understanding of best practices, variations in the criteria for county request for proposals, lack of prevention expertise at the local level, and minimal time for grantees to draw down funds. Statewide efforts to improve funded community-based teen pregnancy prevention planning, implementation, and empowerment evaluation efforts are ongoing.

An exploration of the relationship between youth assets and engagement in risky sexual behaviors.

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between specific youth assets and adolescents' engagement in risky sexual behaviors, as measured by an Aggregate Sexual Risk score, and to specifically explore which youth assets and demographic variables were predictive of youth engagement in risky sexual intercourse. METHODS: A total of 2108 sexually active high school students attending public high schools in a southern state completed a self-report questionnaire that measured youth assets. Based upon responses to items measuring risk behaviors, an Aggregate Sexual Risk score was calculated for each student. Unconditional logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between the assets and the Aggregate Risk Score. Four separate analyses (white females, white males, black females, and black males) were conducted. RESULTS: In general, the patterns in all four groups indicated that students who had an Aggregate Risk Score of > or = 3 (high risk) possessed less of the measured youth assets. The assets that were most significantly associated with engagement in risky sexual behaviors included self peer values regarding risky behaviors, quantity of other adult support, and youths' empathetic relationships. Thus, students who reported not having these assets were significantly more likely to engage in the risky sexual behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Results underscore the relationship of specific youth assets to sexual risk behaviors. Health researcher and practitioners who work to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections among teenagers need to understand and acknowledge these factors within this population so that the assets can be built or strengthened.