Abstract
Peer-based prevention programs for homeless youth are complicated by the potential for reinforcing high-risk behaviors among
participants. The goal of this study is to understand how homeless youth could be linked to positive peers in prevention programming
by understanding where in social and physical space positive peers for homeless youth are located, how these ties are associated
with substance use, and the role of social networking technologies (e.g., internet and cell phones) in this process. Personal
social network data were collected from 136 homeless adolescents in Los Angeles, CA. Respondents reported on composition of
their social networks with respect to: home-based peers and parents (accessed via social networking technology; e.g., the
internet, cell phone, texting), homeless peers and agency staff (accessed face-to-face) and whether or not network members
were substance-using or non-substance-using. Associations between respondent’s lifetime cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine
use and recent (previous 30 days) alcohol and marijuana use were assessed by the number of non-substance-using versus substance-using
ties in multivariate linear regression models. 43% of adolescents reported a non-substance-using home-based tie. More of these
ties were associated with less recent alcohol use. 62% of adolescents reported a substance-using homeless tie. More of these
ties were associated with more recent marijuana use as well as more lifetime heroin and methamphetamine use. For homeless
youth, who are physically disconnected from positive peers, social networking technologies can be used to facilitate the sorts
of positive social ties that effective peer-based prevention programs require.
participants. The goal of this study is to understand how homeless youth could be linked to positive peers in prevention programming
by understanding where in social and physical space positive peers for homeless youth are located, how these ties are associated
with substance use, and the role of social networking technologies (e.g., internet and cell phones) in this process. Personal
social network data were collected from 136 homeless adolescents in Los Angeles, CA. Respondents reported on composition of
their social networks with respect to: home-based peers and parents (accessed via social networking technology; e.g., the
internet, cell phone, texting), homeless peers and agency staff (accessed face-to-face) and whether or not network members
were substance-using or non-substance-using. Associations between respondent’s lifetime cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine
use and recent (previous 30 days) alcohol and marijuana use were assessed by the number of non-substance-using versus substance-using
ties in multivariate linear regression models. 43% of adolescents reported a non-substance-using home-based tie. More of these
ties were associated with less recent alcohol use. 62% of adolescents reported a substance-using homeless tie. More of these
ties were associated with more recent marijuana use as well as more lifetime heroin and methamphetamine use. For homeless
youth, who are physically disconnected from positive peers, social networking technologies can be used to facilitate the sorts
of positive social ties that effective peer-based prevention programs require.
- Content Type Journal Article
- DOI 10.1007/s11121-010-0191-4
- Authors
- Eric Rice, School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Montgomery Ross Fisher Bldg, 669 West 34th St, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0411, USA
- Norweeta G. Milburn, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Center for Community Health, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California–Los Angeles, 10920 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
- William Monro, School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Montgomery Ross Fisher Bldg, 669 West 34th St, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0411, USA
- Journal Prevention Science
- Online ISSN 1573-6695
- Print ISSN 1389-4986