3134.1: Monday, October 22, 2001 - Table 9

Abstract #19277

Correlates of high self-esteem among sexually active African American adolescent females residing in a high-risk environment

Richard A Crosby, PhD1, Ralph J DiClemente, PhD1, Gina M Wingood, ScD, MPH1, Kathleen F Harrington, MAEd, MPH2, and Susan Davies, PhD3. (1) Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education at the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, fifth floor, Atlanta, GA 30322, 770 982 7527, rcrosby@sph.emory.edu, (2) Department of Health Behavior, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1666 University Blvd, Suite 237, Birmingham, AL 35244, (3) Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1665 Unversity Blvd., Suite 410, Birmingham, AL 35294

Background: Self-esteem has previously been demonstrated to be an important protective factor among adolescents at high-risk of health-compromising behaviors. Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify correlates of high self-esteem among a sample of sexually active African American adolescent females residing in a high-risk environment. Methods: A purposeful sample (N=522) of sexually active, African American adolescent females, ages 14 - 18 years, was recruited from low-income neighborhoods with high rates of unemployment, substance abuse, violence, teen pregnancy and STDs. Adolescents completed a self-administered questionnaire that contained the 10-item Rosenberg self-esteem scale (a=.79) and other measures hypothesized to correlate with self-esteem. Significant bivariate correlates were entered into a multiple linear regression model using a stepwise procedure. Results: The regression model explained 38% of the variance in adolescents' scores on the measure of self-esteem. Significant multivariate correlates of higher self-esteem were having a more favorable body image, greater perceived family support, non-traditional sex role beliefs, greater ethnic pride, normative beliefs not favoring male decision making in a relationship, and greater religiosity. Discussion: Diverse measures were associated with self-esteem among a sample of high-risk African American adolescent females. Several of the assessed constructs are particularly amenable to behavioral intervention. Programs designed to increase high-risk African American adolescent females' self-esteem may benefit from promoting more favorable body images, greater perceptions of family support, greater ethnic pride, and more egalitarian sex role beliefs.

Learning Objectives: Session participants will be able to identify and describe the importance of the correlates observed to be associated with high self-esteem among this sample of African American adolescent females residing in a high-risk environment.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: none
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA