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Problem behaviors in inner-city adolescents with chronic illness
E M Alderman1, J L Lauby, S M Coupey
1Preventive Intervention Research Center For Child Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.
Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP
|October 1, 1995
Summary
This study found no significant differences in substance use or delinquency between chronically ill adolescents and their healthy peers. However, healthy friends were more likely to repeat a grade, and gender influenced sexual initiation age.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Behavioral Science
- Chronic Illness Impact
Background:
- Problem behaviors, including sexual activity, substance use, delinquency, and school failure, are concerns in adolescent populations.
- The influence of chronic medical illnesses on the prevalence of these behaviors in adolescents is not fully understood.
- Inner-city youth face unique environmental stressors that may interact with health status to affect behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the prevalence of problem behaviors in adolescents with chronic illnesses.
- To compare these behaviors with those of healthy adolescent peers.
- To investigate the interplay of chronic illness, gender, and environment on adolescent problem behaviors.
Main Methods:
- A clinical hospital-based sample of 217 inner-city adolescents (14-17 years) with chronic illnesses was recruited.
- A comparison group of 121 healthy, age-matched friends from the same community was included.
- Prevalence of sexual activity, substance use, delinquency, and school failure was assessed and compared between groups.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in substance use, delinquency, or rates of sexual intercourse between the ill and healthy groups.
- A significant interaction between chronic illness and gender affected age at first intercourse; healthy boys initiated earlier than their healthy female peers.
- Contrary to hypotheses, healthy friends were significantly more likely to have repeated a grade than adolescents with chronic illnesses.
Conclusions:
- Chronic illness does not appear to increase the risk for common problem behaviors like substance use or delinquency in this sample.
- Environmental and gender factors play a complex role in adolescent sexual initiation and academic outcomes.
- Further research is needed to understand the specific mechanisms linking chronic illness, gender, environment, and behavioral outcomes in adolescents.