Age-related health risk behaviors of adolescents with physical disabilities.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate age-related differences in health risk behaviors in 11-12-, 13-14-, and 15-16-year-old adolescents with physical disabilities.


METHODS
Health survey data from 319 adolescents with physical disabilities were compared with the same data from 7,020 adolescents in a national sample.


RESULTS
Significant age-related differences were found for having tried smoking, smoking, having tasted an alcoholic drink, having been drunk, and using prescription drugs for recreational purposes. However, changes were modest and engagement of 15-16-year-old adolescents with physical disabilities was similar to 11-12-year-olds in the general population. Analysis of associations between disability status and health risk behaviors while controlling for age and sex showed that disability is associated with a lower likelihood of having tried smoking, smoking, having tasted an alcoholic drink, drinking, having been drunk, having used drugs, having used prescription drugs for recreational purposes, and eating sweets; a higher likelihood of not engaging in physical exercise, not eating fresh produce, and eating high-fat foods; and non-significant for seat-belt use.


CONCLUSIONS
Health promotion programs about health risk behaviours designed for adolescents in the general population may not be appropriate for adolescents with physical disabilities.
Steele
Catherine A
CA
Bloorview MacMillan Centre, Toronto.
Kalnins
Ilze V
IV
Rossen
Beth E
BE
Biggar
Douglas W
DW
Bortolussi
Joseph A
JA
Jutai
Jeffrey W
JW
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control