Sharon D Horner1, Lynn Rew, Adama Brown. 1. The University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing, Austin, Texas 78701-1499, USA. shorner@mail.nur.utexas.edu
Abstract
PURPOSE: This longitudinal study was guided by a Youth Resilience Framework. The study purpose was to examine the influence of protective resources, contextual factors, and risk factors in middle childhood (grades 4-6) on health-risk behaviors (e.g., smoking cigarettes, using marijuana, drinking alcohol, carrying a weapon) engaged in on school property by early adolescents (grade 7) who live in rural central Texas. METHODS: Students in grades 4 to 6, a majority of whom were Mexican American (54.3%) and male (56.4%), completed surveys annually until the 7th grade. Generalized estimating equations were run to determine predictors of 7th graders' health-risk behaviors on school property. RESULTS: Engaging in healthy behaviors, knowing others cared about them, and having a sense of competence in middle childhood (grades 4-6) were found to be protective factors, while having a large family size and the expectation that they would not complete school were found to be risk factors for engaging in health risk behaviors in 7th grade. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: These findings show the influence of family and schools as environments that can offer protection from health-risk behaviors in early adolescence.
PURPOSE: This longitudinal study was guided by a Youth Resilience Framework. The study purpose was to examine the influence of protective resources, contextual factors, and risk factors in middle childhood (grades 4-6) on health-risk behaviors (e.g., smoking cigarettes, using marijuana, drinking alcohol, carrying a weapon) engaged in on school property by early adolescents (grade 7) who live in rural central Texas. METHODS: Students in grades 4 to 6, a majority of whom were Mexican American (54.3%) and male (56.4%), completed surveys annually until the 7th grade. Generalized estimating equations were run to determine predictors of 7th graders' health-risk behaviors on school property. RESULTS: Engaging in healthy behaviors, knowing others cared about them, and having a sense of competence in middle childhood (grades 4-6) were found to be protective factors, while having a large family size and the expectation that they would not complete school were found to be risk factors for engaging in health risk behaviors in 7th grade. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: These findings show the influence of family and schools as environments that can offer protection from health-risk behaviors in early adolescence.