Abstract
This study examined the association of perceived social support and community empowerment among urban middle-school students
living in Matamoros, Mexico and the risk behaviors of fighting, alcohol and tobacco use, and sexual activity. Middle school
students (n = 1,181) from 32 public and private Mexican schools were surveyed. Weighted multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted.
Among girls, lack of parent/teacher interactions regarding school increased odds for fighting, alcohol and tobacco use. Among
boys, lack of empowerment increased odds of alcohol and tobacco use and lack of parent/teacher interactions regarding school
increased odds for sexual activity. Community empowerment and perceived social support are uniquely associated with risk behaviors
for girls and boys. Additionally, perceived social support from individuals most immediate to the youth are associated with
protection against risk for some behaviors, while perceived social support from individuals more removed from youth have mixed
association with risk behaviors.
living in Matamoros, Mexico and the risk behaviors of fighting, alcohol and tobacco use, and sexual activity. Middle school
students (n = 1,181) from 32 public and private Mexican schools were surveyed. Weighted multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted.
Among girls, lack of parent/teacher interactions regarding school increased odds for fighting, alcohol and tobacco use. Among
boys, lack of empowerment increased odds of alcohol and tobacco use and lack of parent/teacher interactions regarding school
increased odds for sexual activity. Community empowerment and perceived social support are uniquely associated with risk behaviors
for girls and boys. Additionally, perceived social support from individuals most immediate to the youth are associated with
protection against risk for some behaviors, while perceived social support from individuals more removed from youth have mixed
association with risk behaviors.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s10935-012-0260-5
- Authors
- Belinda M. Reininger, Division of Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Brownsville Regional Campus, Brownsville, TX, USA
- Adriana Pérez, Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Austin Regional Campus, Austin, TX, USA
- Maria I. Aguirre Flores, Coordinadora de Funcionamiento Técnico Pedagógica de Educación Básica, Secretaria de Educación de Tamaulipas, Ciudad Victoria, Mexico
- Zhongxue Chen, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Mohammad H. Rahbar, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Journal The Journal of Primary Prevention
- Online ISSN 1573-6547
- Print ISSN 0278-095X