Transitions to Substance Use and Sexual Intercourse Among South African High School Students

Palen, Lori Ann; Smith, Edward A.; Caldwell, Linda L.; Mathews, Catherine; Vergnani, Tania

doi:10.3109/10826080802544547

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…One-hundred-eighty-three youths (14.9%) had missing values on lifetime sexual intercourse. Many studies on adolescents have used lifetime or ever had sexual intercourse as an outcome (Jessor and Jessor, 1977; Kim, 2010; Latimer et al, 2008; Mancha et al, 2010; Palen et al, 2009). For the subsequent analysis of those reporting lifetime sexual intercourse, three additional items were used.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alcohol use, alcohol problems, and problem behavior engagement among students at two schools in northern Mexico

Mancha

Rojas²,

Latimer

2012

Alcohol

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This study examined the association between alcohol use problem severity, defined by number of DSM-IV alcohol Abuse and Dependence symptoms and frequency of alcohol use, and problem behavior engagement among Mexican students. A confidential survey was administered to 1229 students in grades 7–12 at two schools in a northern border city in Mexico. Youths were categorized into five groups based on their alcohol use frequency and symptoms of DSM-IV alcohol Abuse and Dependence, specifically: no lifetime alcohol use, lifetime alcohol use but none in the past year, past year alcohol use, one or two alcohol Abuse or Dependence symptoms, and three or more alcohol Abuse or Dependence symptoms. The association between five levels of alcohol use problem severity and three problem behaviors, lifetime marijuana use, lifetime sexual intercourse, and past year arrest/law trouble, was examined using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests. Several alcohol use problem severity categories were significantly different with respect to rates of lifetime marijuana use, lifetime sexual intercourse, and past year arrest/law trouble. Higher alcohol use problem severity was associated with greater endorsement of problem behaviors. Knowing about variations in adolescent alcohol use and alcohol problems may be instrumental in determining if youths are also engaging in a range of other risk behaviors. Considering varying levels of alcohol use and alcohol problems is important for effective targeted prevention and treatment interventions.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alcohol use, alcohol problems, and problem behavior engagement among students at two schools in northern Mexico

Mancha

Rojas²,

Latimer

2012

Alcohol

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“…In terms of sexual behavior, 67% of South African youth ages 15-24 had engaged in penetrative sex (Pettifor et al, 2004), 9% of sexually active Grade 11 students reported having a sexually transmitted infection, and 13% reported having been pregnant or making someone pregnant (Reddy, Resnicow, Omardien, & Kambaran, 2007). Previous research on adolescents in the current population has documented the widespread use of drugs (72% reporting lifetime use of alcohol, cigarettes, dagga, or inhalants by Grade 9; Patrick et al, 2008) and engagement in sexual behavior (34% of boys and 12% of girls sexually active by Grade 10; Palen, Smith, Caldwell, Mathews, & Vergnani, 2009).…”

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confidence: 99%

A Qualitative Assessment of South African Adolescents' Motivations For and Against Substance Use and Sexual Behavior

Patrick

Palen

Caldwell

et al. 2010

Journal of Research on Adolescence

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Focus groups (N = 15 groups; eight with girls, seven with boys) with adolescents in high schools near Cape Town, South Africa were used to conduct a qualitative investigation of reported reasons for using and not using substances, and for having and not having sex. Adolescents reported Enhancement, Negative States, Social, and Aversive Social motivations for both substance use and sexual behavior. In addition, being addicted as a reason for using drugs and rape as a context for sexual behavior were frequently reported. Motivations against behaviors included Physical/Behavioral Consequences, Ethical Objections, Social Disapproval, and Activities or Future Orientation reasons. Preventive interventions should address existing motivations for and against substance use and sexual behavior to acknowledge adolescents' experiences in context.

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“…Delaying SU initiation is essential as it decreases the likelihood of later abuse and dependence (e.g., each year alcohol initiation is delayed decreases alcohol dependence and abuse by 14 and 8 %, respectively; Grant and Dawson 1997). Additionally, the initiation of soft or “gateway” drugs, such as alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana, precedes other commonly targeted risky behaviors such as first sexual encounter and illegal, harder drugs, such as inhalants, cocaine, and heroin (Hedeker et al 1992; Palen et al 2009; Patrick et al 2009). …”

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confidence: 99%

Girls Just Want to Know Where to Have Fun: Preventing Substance Use Initiation in an Under-Resourced Community in South Africa Through HealthWise

et al. 2016

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This study examined how the perception of the availability of leisure opportunities may prevent substance use initiation through HealthWise, a school-based program focused on reducing risky behavior. In this study, we specifically focused on whether HealthWise increased student perceptions of leisure opportunities between 8th grade and 10th grade (N = 5610) in an under-resourced community in South Africa. Path analyses were used to test hypotheses. Given gender differences in substance use patterns, societal norms, and leisure opportunities in under-resourced communities, such as the townships of Cape Town, South Africa, it was especially important to examine associations within each gender. Results suggested that HealthWise directly reduced the likelihood of initiating alcohol and cigarette use and increased the amount of perceived leisure opportunities among girls but not boys. Perceived leisure opportunities mediated the effect of HealthWise on reducing the initiation of alcohol and cigarette use directly, and marijuana use indirectly, among girls but not boys. This is the first study to demonstrate how experimentally targeting leisure through an intervention can increase perceived leisure opportunities and thereby prevent early substance use initiation for a specific population. The importance of considering the context of gender, age, and location is discussed.

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Transitions to Substance Use and Sexual Intercourse Among South African High School Students

Cited by 14 publications

References 23 publications

Alcohol use, alcohol problems, and problem behavior engagement among students at two schools in northern Mexico

Alcohol use, alcohol problems, and problem behavior engagement among students at two schools in northern Mexico

A Qualitative Assessment of South African Adolescents' Motivations For and Against Substance Use and Sexual Behavior

Girls Just Want to Know Where to Have Fun: Preventing Substance Use Initiation in an Under-Resourced Community in South Africa Through HealthWise

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