TY - JOUR
T1 - Truancy is associated with sexual risk among early adolescents
AU - Houck, Christopher D.
AU - Hadley, Wendy
AU - Tolou-Shams, Marina
AU - Brown, Larry
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Objective: While previous studies have identified relationships between school truancy and adolescent substance use risk, sexual risk remains unaddressed. Methods: Urban early adolescents (mean age, 13.14 years) with mental health symptoms completed audio computer-assisted self-interviews regarding risk behaviors. Results: Teens who reported a history of skipping school (n = 25), compared with those who did not (n = 113), indicated greater frequency of having ever engaged in oral, vaginal, and anal sex, as well as nonintercourse sexual behaviors. They also reported less value in remaining abstinent but did not demonstrate differences in HIV knowledge or school connectedness. Conclusion: Truancy may serve as an important marker for the early identification of youth at risk for unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.
AB - Objective: While previous studies have identified relationships between school truancy and adolescent substance use risk, sexual risk remains unaddressed. Methods: Urban early adolescents (mean age, 13.14 years) with mental health symptoms completed audio computer-assisted self-interviews regarding risk behaviors. Results: Teens who reported a history of skipping school (n = 25), compared with those who did not (n = 113), indicated greater frequency of having ever engaged in oral, vaginal, and anal sex, as well as nonintercourse sexual behaviors. They also reported less value in remaining abstinent but did not demonstrate differences in HIV knowledge or school connectedness. Conclusion: Truancy may serve as an important marker for the early identification of youth at risk for unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.
UR - http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/548636
U2 - 10.1097/DBP.0b013e31827134a5
DO - 10.1097/DBP.0b013e31827134a5
M3 - Article
SN - 0196-206X
VL - 33
SP - 728
EP - 731
JO - Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
JF - Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
IS - 9
ER -