Countervailing social network influences on problem behaviors among homeless youth.
The impact of countervailing social network influences (i.e., pro-social, anti-social or HIV risk peers) on problem behaviors (i.e., HIV drug risk, HIV sex risk or anti-social behaviors) among 696 homeless youth was assessed using structural equation modeling. Results revealed that older youth were less likely to report having pro-social peers and were more likely to have HIV risk and anti-social peers. A longer time homeless predicted fewer pro-social peers, more anti-social peers, and more HIV risk peers. Heterosexual youth reported fewer HIV risk peers and more pro-social peers. Youth recruited at agencies were more likely to report pro-social peers. Having pro-social peers predicted less HIV sex risk behavior and less anti-social behavior. Having HIV risk peers predicted all problem behavior outcomes. Anti-social peers predicted more anti-social behavior. Once the association between anti-social and HIV risk peers was accounted for independently, having anti-social peers did not independently predict sex or drug risk behaviors.
Rice
Eric
E
Center for Community Health, University of California, UCLA-Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA 90024 USA.
Stein
Judith A
JA
Milburn
Norweeta
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission*; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010379:Peer Group; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work / Q000523:psychology*; D012925:Social Conformity; D012932:Social Facilitation; D012933:Social Identification; D012944:Social Support; D012951:Socialization; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
D013287:Illicit Drugs