A Comparison of Adolescents in Foster Care and Their Peers in High School: A Study of Substance Use Behaviors and Attitudes

Siegel, Alana; Benbenishty, Rami; Astor, Ron Avi

doi:10.1080/1067828x.2016.1139481

Cited by 17 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Foster youth were previously found to exhibit high rates of cigarette smoking, putting them at risk for adverse health consequences later in life (Braciszewski & Colby, 2015; Siegel et al, 2016). In the present study, slightly over 40% identified as lifetime smokers, while about 17% identified as current (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nevertheless, while smoking rates for the general population youth declined substantially in recent years (Johnston et al, 2015), smoking rates for foster youth appear to remain relatively stable. In a sample of foster youth from California collected in 2012, 49% identified as lifetime smokers and 25% identified as current smokers (Siegel et al, 2016). In a sample of foster youth from Connecticut collected in 2015, rates of lifetime smoking were 45%, while rates of current smoking were 18% (Zhan et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following their removal from biological families, these youth may experience additional risks, such as placement instability, frequent school transitions and insensitive caregiving on the part of their foster parents (Shpiegel, 2016). Such negative experiences during childhood were found to increase the risk of smoking initiation (Iakunchykova et al, 2015; McFarlane et al, 2005; Siegel, Benbenishty & Astor, 2016; Zahn, Smith, Warner, North & Wilhelm, 2016). Consequently, foster youth tend to exhibit higher rates of smoking compared to youths in the general population, with 30%–60% reporting lifetime smoking, and 10%–40% reporting current smoking (Braciszewski & Colby, 2015; Coleman-Cowger, Green, & Clark, 2011; Fettes & Aarons, 2011; Scott, Munson, McMillen, & Ollie, 2006; Siegel et al, 2016; Snyder & Medeiros, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such negative experiences during childhood were found to increase the risk of smoking initiation (Iakunchykova et al, 2015; McFarlane et al, 2005; Siegel, Benbenishty & Astor, 2016; Zahn, Smith, Warner, North & Wilhelm, 2016). Consequently, foster youth tend to exhibit higher rates of smoking compared to youths in the general population, with 30%–60% reporting lifetime smoking, and 10%–40% reporting current smoking (Braciszewski & Colby, 2015; Coleman-Cowger, Green, & Clark, 2011; Fettes & Aarons, 2011; Scott, Munson, McMillen, & Ollie, 2006; Siegel et al, 2016; Snyder & Medeiros, 2013). The rates of smoking may be even higher among certain vulnerable subgroups within the foster care population, such as youths who have experienced homelessness, residential placements, or criminal justice involvement (Hudson & Nandy, 2012; Smith, Chamberlain, & Eddy, 2010; Strack, Anderson, Graham, & Tomoyasu, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In recent years, males and females have been reporting comparable smoking rates in early adolescence, however, males tend to smoke more frequently as they approach young adulthood (Fettes & Aarons, 2011; Miech et al, 2015). To our knowledge, the extent to which gender differences apply to youths in foster care has not been previously evaluated, as research on this population has been scant (Braciszewski & Colby, 2015; Siegel et al, 2016; Zahn et al, 2016). In studies of child welfare-involved youth (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Smoking Behaviors Among Adolescents in Foster Care: A Gender-Based Analysis

Shpiegel¹,

Sussman

Sherman

et al. 2017

Substance Use & Misuse

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Background and Objectives Adolescents in foster care are at high risk for cigarette smoking. However, it is not clear how their smoking behaviors vary by gender. The present study examined lifetime and current smoking among males and females, and explored gender-specific risk factors for engagement in smoking behaviors. Method Data from the Multi Site Evaluation of Foster Youth Programs was used to evaluate patterns of smoking among adolescents aged 12–18 years (N=1,121; 489 males, 632 females). Results Males and females did not differ significantly in rates of lifetime and current smoking, or in the age of smoking initiation and number of cigarettes smoked on a typical day. Gender-based analyses revealed that older age and placement in group homes or residential treatment facilities were associated with heightened risk of smoking among males. In contrast, sexual minority status (i.e. non-heterosexual orientation) and increased childhood victimization were associated with heightened risk of smoking among females. A history of running away was linked to smoking in both genders. Conclusion Gender should be considered when designing intervention programs to address cigarette smoking among foster youth, as the stressors associated with smoking may differ for males and females.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Smoking Behaviors Among Adolescents in Foster Care: A Gender-Based Analysis

Shpiegel¹,

Sussman

Sherman

et al. 2017

Substance Use & Misuse

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The association between treated psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders and out-of-home care among Finnish children born in 1997

Kääriälä

Gyllenberg

Sund

et al. 2021

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry

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Comprehensive overviews of the use of psychiatric services among children and adolescents placed in out-of-home care (OHC) by child welfare authorities are scarce. We examine specialized service use for psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders among children and adolescents in a total population involving children in OHC. We used the longitudinal administrative data of a complete Finnish birth cohort 1997 (N = 57,174). We estimated risk ratios (RRs) for a range of diagnosed psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders among children in OHC. We also estimated RRs for OHC among those with diagnosed disorders. We used descriptive methods to explore the timing of first entry into OHC relative to the first diagnosis. Among children in OHC, 61.9% were diagnosed with any psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorder, compared with 18.0% among those never in OHC (RR: 3.7; 95% CI 3.6–3.8). The most common diagnosed disorders among children in OHC were depression and anxiety disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder (ODD/CD). Among all children with any diagnosis, 18.1% experienced OHC, compared with 2.5% among those without a diagnosis (RR: 7.4; 95% CI 6.9–7.9). Of those diagnosed with self-harm and suicidality, ODD/CD, substance-related disorders, and psychotic and bipolar disorders, 43.5–61.2% experienced OHC. Of the children in OHC receiving psychiatric services, half were diagnosed before first placement in OHC. The majority of children with experience in OHC were diagnosed with psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders. They comprised a significant proportion of individuals treated for severe and complex psychiatric disorders and self-harm.

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