248434 Sensation seeking as a risk factor for problem behaviors among adolescents in Puerto Rico

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Lizbeth Del Toro-Mejías, BS , Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, PR
Natalia Torres-Berrios, BS , Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, PR
Isaedmarie Febo-Vázquez, BS , Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, PR
Juan C. Reyes-Pulliza, EdD, MS , Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, PR
Adolescence is a period of heightened vulnerability to risk taking because of a disjunction between novelty and sensation seeking, and the development of self-regulatory competence. Problem behaviors include violence, delinquency acts, sexual activity, and alcohol and drug use. The aim of this study is to assess the relationships between sensation seeking and problem behaviors among Puerto Rican adolescents residing in poor neighborhoods. This cross-sectional study is based on a secondary analysis of the study “Risky Families Embedded in Risky Environment” data. A total of 693 adolescents aged 12-15 years completed a self-administered and a face-to-face interview. Sensation seeking was measured by an adapted Zuckerman Personality Questionnaire. Higher sensation seeking scores were more prevalent among male (48.7%), in contrast to females that tend to report average scores (69.2%). Among problem behaviors: 11.8% were sexually active, 17.9% used alcohol, 12.8% engaged in delinquent acts and 10.5% displayed violent behavior. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that those who had a very high sensation seeking level were significantly associated with violent behavior (POR=7.8, 95% CI=3.7-16.4), delinquent acts (POR=3.6, 95% CI=1.8-6.9), sexual activity (POR=4.9, 95% CI=2.3-10.2), and alcohol use (POR=5.0, 95% CI=2.7-9.4). Adolescents are incurring in problem behaviors, hence intervention programs should be developed along with preventive programs to address this public health issue. Longitudinal studies could be pursued to clarify these associations.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
List four risky behaviors correlated to very high sensation seeking among adolescents.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Risky Behaviors

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been skilled to approach many public health problems, such as problem behaviors, as well as substance use disorder and other mental conditions among adolescents and adults. Furthermore, this poster presentation was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institute (NIDA Grant. Num. RO1 DA15301), so I have no financial, professional and/or personal interest by participating in it.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.