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Abstract
While the majority of American Indian adolescents do not suffer from significant risks to overall health status, a sizable number report high rates of health-compromising behaviors and risk factors. This study examined risk and protective factors for problem health behaviors (i.e., alcohol, drug, and tobacco use and sexual behaviors) among American Indian adolescents, as well as gender and grade-level group differences.
Secondary analysis of data collected in 1993 from a national survey of 2,390 American Indian adolescents in grades 9 through 12 from the Western United States was undertaken to develop and replicate models of risk and protective factors for problem health behaviors. In addition, prevalence rates for these behaviors were identified and compared to national statistics.
Selected prevalence rates include: 57% tried marijuana, 51% had sex, 50% smoke cigarettes, 25% got drunk one to five times in the past month, 21% use smokeless tobacco, and 20% tried amphetamines. School connection, social support, community mindedness, and a connection to culture/traditionality were protective in reducing the risk of engaging in problem health behaviors. Stressful life events, financial insecurity, non-intact household structure, and parental/important adult substance abuse increased the risk of engaging in problem health behaviors.
Although prevalence rates of certain problem health behaviors among this sample were high, they were comparable to rates reported from nationally representative samples of adolescents. In addition, results revealed that several of the protective and risk factors varied by gender and grade-level group, including community mindedness, White culture, death/loss and other stressful life events, and non-intact household structure. Interventions that promote a greater connection to school and that offer resources to adolescents dealing with stressful life events may prevent teens from engaging in problem health behaviors. Additional implications for interventions and suggestions for future research are discussed.
