Maggie Tang, MSW¹, Debra M. McCallum, PhD², J. Richard McCallum, PhD³, John M. Bolland, PhD², Brad E. Lian, PhD², and Joan M. Barth, PhD². (1) School of Social Work, University of Alabama, Box 870314, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0314, 205-758-3672, maggietangsuper@yahoo.com, (2) Institute for Social Science Research, University of Alabama, Box 870216, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0216, (3) Birmingham-Southern College, 900 Arkadelphia Road, Birmingham, AL 35254

A mediation model was tested which relates predictors of unintentional injuries in low-income adolescents to risk-taking behaviors. Secondary analysis was conducted with data obtained during 1998-2001 from a multiple cohort sample as a part of the Mobile Youth Survey (Bolland, 2003) of 8,915 low-income, largely African-American adolescents aged 9-19. The general hypothesis was tested that risk-taking behaviors including violence, substance use, and sexual activity serve as mediators between a number of social, psychological, and demographic variables and reported unintentional injuries among these adolescents. Three sets of variables are combined in a single model, and adolescent risk-taking behaviors (violence, substance use, and sexual activity) are shown to have a mediating role in the relationship between a variety of social, psychological, and demographic variables and reported unintentional injuries. The potential utility of this mediation model is demonstrated in understanding the complex relationships among multiple predictor variables and unintentional injuries in this population.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify several social and psychological factors associated with unintentional injuries.
• Describe the mediating role of risk behaviors in the relationship between social-psychological factors and unintentional injuries among low-income urban youth.
• Discuss implications of the conceptual model and mediating role of risk behaviors for injury prevention.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Injuries

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.