The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #55489

Patricia J. Dittus, PhD, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS K-33, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-6196, pdittus@cdc.gov, Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, PhD, School of Social Work, Columbia University, 622 West 113th Street, New York, NY 10025, and James Jaccard, PhD, Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222.

Purpose: To present a theoretical framework for developing a targeted parent-based intervention for Latino and African-American parents in an urban setting. According to the framework, behavior is a function of intentions, knowledge and skills, environmental constraints, salience, and habit. Behavioral intentions are a function of attitude, social norms, beliefs, self-concept, affect, and self-efficacy. However, the specific content of these constructs may vary by the population being addressed. Thus, in order to design tailored communications for parents, qualitative studies are needed. Method: Ninety Latino and African-American 7th and 8th grade students and their mothers completed an open-ended elicitation survey assessing each of the theoretical constructs. Results: Belief structures of participating adolescents regarding the consequences of having sexual intercourse or smoking cigarettes were less extensive than those of older adolescents, but were reflective of their age and overall lack of experience. Beliefs were focused on negative consequences such as disease and death; few held beliefs about social and emotional consequences. Adolescents perceived disapproval from mothers and grandmothers for engaging in risk behaviors and were more likely to characterize others who engage in risk behaviors in a negative way. Conclusions: Results will inform the development of Linking Lives, an intervention designed to help parents have a positive influence on the risk behaviors of their children. This supplement to school-based curricula will be evaluated for effectiveness in reducing the sexual and tobacco risk behaviors of adolescents. By focusing the intervention on factors most relevant for this population, we hope to maximize its effectiveness.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the value of applying a theoretical framework to the design of interventions.
• Articulate the process for developing targeted interventions through the use of qualitative formative research.

Keywords: Interventions, Adolescent Health

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.