Lynn Rew1, Natasha Slesnick2, Karen Johnson3, Adam Sales4. 1. The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, Austin, Texas. Electronic address: ellerew@mail.utexas.edu. 2. The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology, Columbus, Ohio. 3. The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, Austin, Texas. 4. Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Mathematical Sciences, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a brief intervention to promote responsible substance use and safe sex behaviors in youths experiencing homelessness (YEH). METHODS: Design: A Solomon four-group (double randomized controlled trial) longitudinal design with repeated measures (3- and 6-month follow-ups) was used in drop-in centers for YEH in Austin, Texas and Columbus, Ohio from which 602 youths, 18-24 years-old (M = 21 ± 1.8), 50% white; 69.9% heterosexual were recruited. A manualized one-on-one intervention consisted of six modules delivered via laptop computers. Modules focused on communication, goal-setting, substance use refusal, safe sex behaviors, enhanced psychological capital (hope, optimism, resilience, self-efficacy, gratitude), and life satisfaction. Valid and reliable measures of hope, optimism, future time perspective, resilience, social connectedness, gratitude, condom intention, self-efficacy for safe sex, safe sex behaviors, self-efficacy for substance use refusal, and life satisfaction were used to collect data for which three hypotheses were tested, using intent to treat, with multi-level modeling (R). RESULTS: The analysis showed partial support for all hypotheses: (1) post-test outcomes were greater than pretests; (2) intervention group outcomes were greater than control group measures; and (3) significant effects for pretesting. YEH in Ohio completed significantly more sessions than YEH in Texas (p = .001), but took significantly longer to complete all six sessions (p = .001). DISCUSSION: This brief intervention had significant effects on YEH to promote healthy attitudes and behaviors that merit further testing in larger samples.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a brief intervention to promote responsible substance use and safe sex behaviors in youths experiencing homelessness (YEH). METHODS: Design: A Solomon four-group (double randomized controlled trial) longitudinal design with repeated measures (3- and 6-month follow-ups) was used in drop-in centers for YEH in Austin, Texas and Columbus, Ohio from which 602 youths, 18-24 years-old (M = 21 ± 1.8), 50% white; 69.9% heterosexual were recruited. A manualized one-on-one intervention consisted of six modules delivered via laptop computers. Modules focused on communication, goal-setting, substance use refusal, safe sex behaviors, enhanced psychological capital (hope, optimism, resilience, self-efficacy, gratitude), and life satisfaction. Valid and reliable measures of hope, optimism, future time perspective, resilience, social connectedness, gratitude, condom intention, self-efficacy for safe sex, safe sex behaviors, self-efficacy for substance use refusal, and life satisfaction were used to collect data for which three hypotheses were tested, using intent to treat, with multi-level modeling (R). RESULTS: The analysis showed partial support for all hypotheses: (1) post-test outcomes were greater than pretests; (2) intervention group outcomes were greater than control group measures; and (3) significant effects for pretesting. YEH in Ohio completed significantly more sessions than YEH in Texas (p = .001), but took significantly longer to complete all six sessions (p = .001). DISCUSSION: This brief intervention had significant effects on YEH to promote healthy attitudes and behaviors that merit further testing in larger samples.
Authors: Marya Gwadz; Robert Freeman; Noelle R Leonard; Alexandra Kutnick; Elizabeth Silverman; Amanda Ritchie; James Bolas; Charles M Cleland; Lara Tabac; Margo Hirsch; Jamie Powlovich Journal: Child Adolesc Social Work J Date: 2018-07-16