Search

Objectives. Our study tested the effectiveness of network methods for identifying opinion leaders and for constructing groups. Methods. Three conditions--random, teacher, and network--were randomly assigned to 84 6th-grade classrooms within 16 schools. Pre- and postcurriculum data on mediators of tobacco use were collected from 1961 students. Peer leaders in the network condition were identified by student nominations, and those leaders were matched with the students who nominated them. Results. Students in the network condition relative to the random condition liked the prevention program more and had improved attitudes (β=-0.06; P<.01), improved self-efficacy (β=-0.10; P<.001), and decreased intention to smoke (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.38, 0.55). Conclusions. The network method was the most effective way to structure the program. Future programs may refine this technique and use it in other settings. (Am J Public Health. 2003;93:1837-1843) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from a diverse statewide sample of 10th-grade adolescents in California, in 1996–97, this study investigated the associations between peer influence variables and susceptibility to smoking. Peer influence variables included attitudes about the social consequences of smoking and subjective norms, as described by the Theory of Reasoned Action. Among never-smokers (N = 2681) and ever-smokers (N = 4248), attitudes about social consequences of smoking and subjective norms each were associated with an increased risk of susceptibility to smoking. The model explained a larger proportion of the variance in susceptibility among ever-smokers than among never-smokers. Results indicate that peer influences, including perceptions of the social consequences of smoking and perceived social norms, may make adolescents susceptible to smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate a multicultural smoking prevention curriculum, 16 schools were randomized to receive the multicultural curriculum or a standard curriculum and program effects on 1-year smoking initiation among 1430 never smokers were assessed. Hispanic boys who received the multicultural curriculum were less likely to initiate smoking than were those who received the standard curriculum: effects were insignificant among other groups. The prevention effect among Hispanic boys is encouraging, but additional research is needed to improve prevention effects among other groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk for depression increases as Hispanic youth acculturate to U.S. society. This association is stronger for Hispanic girls than boys. To better understand the influence of culture and family on depressive symptoms, we tested a process-oriented model of acculturation, cultural values, and family functioning. The data came from Project RED, which included 1,922 Hispanic students (53 % girls; 86 % were 14 years old; and 84 % were U.S. born) from Southern California. We used data from 9th to 11th grade to test the influence of acculturation-related experiences on depressive symptoms over time. Multi-group structural equation analysis suggested that both family conflict and cohesion were linked with depressive symptoms. Hispanic cultural values were associated with family cohesion and conflict but the strength and direction of these relationships varied across cultural values and gender. For girls and boys, familismo and respeto were associated with higher family cohesion and lower family conflict. Moreover, gender roles were linked with higher family cohesion in girls but not in boys. These results indicate that improving family functioning will be beneficial for boys' and girls' psychological well-being. This may be achieved by promoting familismo and respeto for boys and girls and by promoting traditional gender roles for girls.

Objective: To examine perceived discrimination and substance use among Latino high school students., Methods: Latino 9(th) graders (N = 1332) completed self-report measures of perceived discrimination and substance use behavior., Results: Perceived discrimination was associated with lifetime use measures of smoking (OR = 1.73, P < 0.01), alcohol (OR = 1.53, P < 0.01), marijuana (OR = 1.70, P < 0.01), and inhalants (OR = 1.50, P < 0.05); and past 30 day measures of smoking (OR = 2.54, P < 0.01), alcohol (OR = 1.63, P < 0.01), marijuana (OR = 1.95, P < 0.01), and inhalants (OR = 1.64, P < 0.01), and binge drinking (OR = 1.84, P < 0.01)., Conclusions: Latino adolescents who have higher perceptions of discrimination are at risk for substance use. Interventions to help Latino adolescents cope with feelings of discrimination may be a useful addition to substance use prevention programs.

Focus groups were conducted with adolescents and parents as part of a larger study to understand the connection between acculturation and Hispanic/Latino adolescent substance use. Parents (n = 18) were all mothers and had an average age of 42 years. Students (n = 16) were 62% female and had an average age of 14 years. Results are summarized in five categories: culture/ethnic identity, acculturation, parent-child conflict/relationships, gender, and adolescent substance use. Parents and adolescents held similar views in some areas (e.g., pride in ethnic identity and changes in language use), but diverged in others (e.g., indicators of acculturation, gender differences in parenting, and ideas of freedom and independence). Participants in the focus groups did not endorse the association between acculturation and substance use that has been detected in quantitative studies. Implications for substance use prevention and treatment programs are discussed.

Purpose: To investigate the influence of two potentially protective factors, Health-as-a-Value and spirituality, on monthly alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use in two multiethnic groups of adolescents varying in risk., Methods: Three-hundred-eighty-two students from continuation/alternative high school, a population considered at risk for drug use, participated in the study. The other sample of 260 students was drawn from a medical magnet high school, and is considered to be at lower risk. Similar surveys containing measures of spirituality, "Health-as-a-Value," and monthly substance use, were distributed. Logistic regression analyses were performed., Results: The analyses revealed that spirituality was protective against monthly alcohol use and marijuana use in the lower risk sample. In the higher risk sample, spirituality was protective against all monthly use. "Health-as-a-Value" (HAV) was protective against monthly alcohol use in the low risk sample, and protective against all monthly use in the higher risk sample. Importantly, when both constructs were entered into the same model, spirituality and HAV were independently protective of all monthly use for the higher risk sample and of monthly alcohol use in the lower risk sample., Conclusions: These findings extend earlier work on protective factors. "Health-as-a-Value" and spirituality may be protective against substance use in environments with different levels of use. Future studies should explore these findings in longitudinal analyses.