A Multigroup, Longitudinal Study of Truant Youths, Marijuana Use, Depression, and STD-Associated Sexual Risk Behavior

Abstract

Truant youth are likely to engage in a number of problem behaviors, including sexual risky behaviors. Previous research involving non-truant youth has found sexual risk behaviors to be related to marijuana use and depression, with differential effects for male and female youth. Using data collected in a NIDA funded, prospective intervention project, results are reported of a male-female, multi-group, longitudinal analysis of the relationships among truant youth baseline sexual risk behavior, marijuana use, and depression, and their sexual risk behavior over four follow-up time points. Results indicated support for the longitudinal model, with female truants having higher depression scores, and showing stronger relationships between baseline depression and future engagement in sexual risk behavior, than male truants. Findings suggest that incorporating strategies to reduce depression and marijuana use may decrease youth sexual risk behavior.

Racial Discrimination and Risky Sex: Examining Cognitive-Emotional Factors in Black College Students

“…With a sample of men in Tanzania, increases in depression and anxiety were associated with increased risky sexual behaviors (Hill et al, 2017, 2018), while in a sample of low-income Black men hopelessness was related to sexual risk-taking behaviors (Kagan et al, 2012). In terms of longitudinal work Dembo et al (2017) found a relationship between baseline depression and future engagement in sexual risk-taking behaviors. Finally, aggression has been linked with sexual risk behaviors in emerging adults (Fite et al, 2016), with hostility shown to predict sexual risk behaviors in adolescent females (Ethier et al, 2006).…”

Impact of COVID-2019 on school attendance problems

“…A US study found a statistically significant increase in positive suicide risk screens and suicidal ideation among youths 11-21 years old that visited a pediatric emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic screening [ 21 ]. Additionally, truants are more likely to suffer from forms of depression and suicidal ideation [ 22 , 23 ]. We suggest increased mental health support and parental awareness of their child’s well-being related to SAPs, particularly during the pandemic.…”

School Absenteeism, Health-Related Quality of Life [HRQOL] and Happiness among Young Adults Aged 16–26 Years

“…Furthermore, a study found more school absenteeism in older youth (15–17 years) compared to younger youth (12–14 years) [3]. These increases in major depressive episodes, risk (health) behaviors and school absenteeism seem to intertwine, since depression and risky health behaviors, such as tobacco use, alcohol use and risky sexual behaviors, are found to be associated with school absenteeism [3,4,5,6,7] and are clustering together [8]. It is unclear whether school absenteeism is associated with poorer health-related quality of life or with happiness.…”