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David Hollar, PhD, Developmental and Genetic Center, University of Tennesee Graduate School of Medicine, Suite 435, 1930 Alcoa Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920, (865) 544-9030, dhollar@mc.utmck.edu
Previous results have demonstrated that youth with disabilities in the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988-2000 (NELS: 88) report significantly higher use of cigarettes and illicit drugs than their non-disabled peers, with negative educational and social outcomes as a result. A frequent question, and an important issue involving disability classification, involves how disability is defined in NELS:88. An additional question involves how environmental risk factors for substance use and other negative vary across different categories of disability in this study. Out of n = 10,827 youth who completed information for all five waves of NELS:88, n = 1,048 youth were categorized with disability based upon the more stringent parental set of identifiers in the base year data collection.These 1,048 youth with disabilities were the focus of the study. Excluding individuals with multiple disabilities, the percentage distribution of disability categories was as follows: (a) learning disability (40.9%), (b) sensory disability (24.9%), (c) health disability (14.9%), (d) emotional disability (10.4%), and (e) physical disability (8.84%). Independent variables included disability category and environmental risk factors (e.g., peer pressure, self concept). Dependent variables included F2 and F4 cigarette, alcohol, and illicit drug use. Relative weighted SPSS analyses included MANOVA for continuously-scored dependent variables and Chi-Square for dichotomously-scored dependent variables. Substance use varied across categories of disability. Discussion will focus on prevention initiatives, disability classification, and environmental factors in risk behavior reduction.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to
Keywords: Youth, Disability
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.