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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Kenneth J. Steinman, PhD, MPH, School of Public Health, Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion, Ohio State University, B-215 Starling-Loving Hall, 320 West 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1240, 614/293-3908, steinman.13@osu.edu and Timothy R. Sahr, MPH, ThM, MDiv, Research and Policy, Franklin County, Ohio, District Board of Health, 410 South High Street, 4th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215.
Previous research indicates that youths who attend religious services tend to use less alcohol, tobacco and other drugs than their peers. It is unclear, however, whether the mechanisms that account for the relationship between religiosity and adolescent substance use are the same for different genders and ethnic groups. The present study compares three mechanisms that are thought to explain the influence of religious participation on adolescent substance use: family relations, school bonding, and refusal skills. In addition, the study examines whether these mechanisms vary by gender and ethnicity. The data are from a census of high school students (n=38,999) who participated in the 2000 administration of the Primary Prevention Awareness Attitude and Use Survey (PPAAUS) in Franklin County, Ohio. The sample was evenly split between males and females and included white (70%), black (18%), Asian (4%) and Hispanic (2%) students. Preliminary analyses found that the negative association between religious participation and substance use (i.e., a composite index) was stronger for white and Hispanic youths. All three mechanisms partly explained the religion-substance use connection, though their relative importance varied markedly across different ethnic groups. In contrast, few gender differences were detected. Religiosity may influence adolescent risk behaviors through different paths across different cultures in the United States. Practitioners who develop faith-based programs to curtail adolescent substance use may benefit by tailoring their efforts accordingly.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, participants will be able to
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Religion
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.