Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Gabriel N. Stover, MPA¹, Marguerita Lightfoot, PhD², and Scott Comulada, PhD². (1) Center for Community Health, UCLA -Semel Institute, 10920 Wilshire Blvd Su 350, los angeles, CA 90024, 310 794 8278, gstover@mednet.ucla.edu, (2) Center for Community Health, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, 10920 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 350, Los Angles, CA 90024

Background: Young women have become increasingly involved with the juvenile justice system, evidenced by the surge in adolescent female incarceration rates. This study aims to explore the gender differences in potential correlates of youth problem behavior. Methods: A total of 133 students aged 14 - 20 attending alternative education schools (AES) were recruited and assessed. These students were at risk for or currently involved with the juvenile justice system. Several potential indicators of delinquent behavior were examined, including sociodemographic information, sexual behavior, mental health symptoms and service usage, coping styles, future orientation, peer and parental relationships, and substance use. Youth self-reported delinquent behaviors in the previous 6 to 12 months. Logistic regression was used to identify the significant indicators of delinquent behaviors. Results: Students were mostly African American (55%) and Latino (45%) ethnicity, with 31% being female. Over half (57%) had been arrested and almost half (46%) were on probation. Boys were more likely to be on probation or arrested in their lifetimes. Students reported similar rates for substance use and mental health usage, but for girls, financial status, sexual behavior and their coping mechanisms were associated with the odds of reporting higher levels of crime. Whereas for boys there were few significant indicators identified. Mental health and substance use were not significant indicators for either gender. Conclusions: These findings underscore the need to understand the gender differences in problem behavior in order to target those areas that can prevent or limit future delinquent behaviors.

Learning Objectives: