Do street youths' perceptions of their caregivers predict HIV-risk behavior?
This study examined street youths' perceptions of their caregivers and the association between these perceptions and HIV-risk behavior in a random probability sample of 715 12- to 23-year-old street youths from Los Angeles and San Diego, CA (mean age, 18.7 years). All participants had been homeless at some point during the past 12 months, with 70% recruited from nonshelter sites. Although youths reported high rates of hostility, unavailability, substance use, and legal problems among their caregivers, 86% reported that their caregivers had at least one attribute associated with support. Caregiver problems were associated with youth having had more sexual partners in the past 30 days and having higher risk drug use. High caregiver support was associated with more sexual partners and lower use of condoms with steady partners. Caregiver attributes did not predict condom use with transient partners.
Darling
Nancy
N
Program in Psychology, Bard College, NY, USA. Nancy.Darling@oberlin.edu
Palmer
Raymond F
RF
Kipke
Michele D
MD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012938:Social Perception; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology