This is a proposal for a cohort-sequential study of the full array of health-risk behaviors.
Specific aims are to 1) compare contextual/risk factors, protective resources, and health behaviors of school-aged children as well as health-risk behaviors of early adolescents by gender and ethnicity; 2) identify how risk factors, protective resources, and health behaviors of school-aged children change over time; and 3) determine which set of risk factors and protective resources over grades 4, 5, and 6 best predict health-risk behaviors (sexual activity, tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, dietary behaviors, physical activity, and behaviors that lead to intentional or unintentional injury) in early adolescence (7th and 8th grades). The leading causes of morbidity and mortality among American youth are associated with preventable, health-risk behaviors that tend to occur together. These behaviors are increasingly prevalent among ethnic minorities, yet little is known about factors that increase risk or provide protection against these behaviors. Using a cohort-sequential design, a convenience sample of 2200 ethnically diverse children in grades 4-6 in central Texas will be surveyed up to 5 years to meet these specific aims. Findings from the study will advance knowledge about health-risk behaviors in early adolescence by 1) emphasizing stress and ethnicity as understudied contextual/risk factors in school-aged children, 2) exploring understudied concepts of coping and humor as protective resources in school- aged children, 3) exploring the relationship between school-aged children's health behaviors and their health-risk behaviors in early adolescence, 4) identifying whether and how these risk factors and protective resources change over time and whether they predict health-risk behavior in early adolescence, and 5) exploring relationships among risk factors and protective resources that both moderate and mediate outcomes of health-risk behavior in both Anglo and Mexican American youth. The use of hierarchical linear models will increase understanding of how the major variables in the resilience model change over time and allow us to make inferences about the critical time at which to deliver interventions to reduce health-risk behaviors in early adolescence.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01HD039554-01A2
Application #
6544337
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-SNEM-1 (01))
Program Officer
Haverkos, Lynne
Project Start
2002-07-01
Project End
2007-06-30
Budget Start
2002-07-01
Budget End
2003-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$334,964
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Austin
Department
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
City
Austin
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78712
Rew, Lynn; Arheart, Kristopher L; Horner, Sharon D et al. (2015) Gender and ethnic differences in health-promoting behaviors of rural adolescents. J Sch Nurs 31:219-32
Rew, Lynn; Principe, Connor; Hannah, Dana (2012) Changes in stress and coping during late childhood and preadolescence. J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Nurs 25:130-40
Rew, Lynn; Grady, Matthew W; Spoden, Micajah (2012) Childhood predictors of adolescent competence and self-worth in rural youth. J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Nurs 25:169-77
Horner, Sharon D; Rew, Lynn; Brown, Adama (2012) Risk-taking behaviors engaged in by early adolescents while on school property. Issues Compr Pediatr Nurs 35:90-110
Rew, Lynn; Horner, Sharon D; Brown, Adama (2011) Health-risk behaviors in early adolescence. Issues Compr Pediatr Nurs 34:79-96
Rew, Lynn; Horner, Sharon D; Fouladi, Rachel T (2010) Factors associated with health behaviors in middle childhood. J Pediatr Nurs 25:157-66
Rew, Lynn (2006) Sexual health promotion in adolescents with chronic health conditions. Fam Community Health 29:61S-9S
Fouladi, Rachel T; Rew, Lynn; Horner, Sharon D (2006) Comparison of three modes of measuring stress, coping, and humor in school-age children. J Nurs Meas 14:79-98
Jenkins, Sandra K; Rew, Lynn; Sternglanz, R Weylin (2005) Eating behaviors among school-age children associated with perceptions of stress. Issues Compr Pediatr Nurs 28:175-91
Rew, Lynn; Horner, Sharon D; Riesch, Lou et al. (2004) Computer-assisted survey interviewing of school-age children. ANS Adv Nurs Sci 27:129-37

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