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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Laura A. Beebe, PhD¹, Sara Vesely, PhD², Roy Oman, PhD², Eleni Tolma, PhD², Cheryl Aspy, PhD², and Sharon Rodine³. (1) College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 801 NE 13th Street, CHB 309, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, 405-271-2229, laura-beebe@ouhsc.edu, (2) College of Public Health, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, 900 NE 10th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73104, (3) OICA, 420 NW 13th, Oklahoma City, OK 73103

Little is known about the role of specific protective assets in the prevention of risk behaviors among Native American youth. Data from 126 Native Americans, ages 13-19 years, participating in an inner-city youth assets study, were analyzed. Among Native American youth, 21.4% reported any alcohol use in the last 30 days. The prevalence of any tobacco use was 28.6%, and any drug use was 12.9%. Individual logistic regression analyses were conducted, controlling for demographic variables, with nine youth assets as the independent variables and alcohol, tobacco and other drug non-use as the dependent variables. The Non-Parental Adult Role Models asset was significantly associated with non-use of alcohol (OR=4.4, 95% CI 1.4-13.3), tobacco (OR=7.9, 95% CI 2.3-27.1), and other drugs (OR=5.9, 95% CI 1.8-19.3). The Use of Time (religion) asset was also significantly associated with alcohol non-use (OR=2.8, 95% CI 1.1-7.2) and non-use of other drugs (OR=3.3, 95% CI 1.0-11.0). The Family Communication asset was associated only with other drug non-use (OR=3.2, 95% CI 1.1-9.5). For tobacco non-use, an interaction was observed between family structure and the Good Health Practices (exercise/nutrition) asset. Among youth in single-parent households, those who possessed the Good Health Practices (exercise/nutrition) asset were 4.8 times more likely to also report tobacco non-use. Despite the relatively small sample size of Native American youth, these results suggest an important role for specific developmental assets in the prevention of substance abuse among Native American youth.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to

• Describe youth asset constructs
• Understand the relationship between specific youth assets and alcohol, tobacco and other drug non-use among Native American youth
• Suggest ways to integrate youth assets into program planning for more effective substance abuse interventions for Native American youth

Keywords: Adolescents, Substance Abuse Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered