Various depressive symptoms have been linked to elevated levels of HIV risk across diverse adult populations in multiple studies. However, this link has been examined in a much more limited manner among adolescents, despite an exceedingly heightened risk of both HIV and depression in this age group. To address the current lack of clinically pertinent knowledge in this area, we analyzed baseline data from 256 male and 107 female inner city, culturally diverse (31% Hispanic, 31%, African American, 10% Caucasian, and 9% Haitian) adolescent offenders enrolled in two ongoing NIH-funded HIV prevention projects. A relatively “depressive” and “non-depressive” symptom subgroup was formed by conducting a median split on scores from the well-validated depressive affect scale of the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI). Compared to the non-depressive subgroup, the depressives reported significantly more sexual partners, unprotected sex, and increased susceptibility to HIV, as well as more and marijuana, cocaine, and alcohol use (all p’s <.05). Although demonstrating better condom skills, depressive participants reported less favorable attitudes towards using condoms, less knowledge about HIV transmission, and lower sexual self-efficacy than non-depressive participants. The depressive adolescents also scored in a significantly more negative direction on measures of social support satisfaction and attitudes about sex than non-depressive youths. Depressive symptoms are therefore of particular concern for adolescents, who are at risk not only for generally acknowledged difficulties such as suicide, but also multiple risk factors for HIV. The theoretical and applied implications of these findings will be discussed.
Learning Objectives: Following this session, the audience will have a clearer understanding of the theoretical and empirical links between depressive symptoms, abuse of alcohol and other drugs, and HIV risk behavior among adolescents involved in the justice system.
Keywords: Adolescent Health, HIV Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.