Brief Intervention for Truant Youth Sexual Risk Behavior and Alcohol Use: A Parallel Process Growth Model Analysis

Abstract

Truant youths frequently experience family problems, emotional/psychological issues, substance misuse, and delinquency. They are likely engaging in alcohol use and sexual risk behavior at a higher rate than the general youth population. Early intervention services would benefit them, their families, and society. We present interim findings from an ongoing, National Institute on Drug Abuse-funded, experimental, brief intervention (BI) study involving truant youths and their parent/guardians. Baseline, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up data were analyzed to determine whether alcohol use and sexual risk behaviors were longitudinally related, to examine the effects of the BI on alcohol use and sexual risk behaviors, to identify subgroups of youths involved in alcohol use and sexual risk behaviors, and to assess the impact of the BI on these subgroups. Results indicated alcohol use and sexual risk were longitudinally related. Limited treatment effects were observed for alcohol use. Implications for future research and service delivery are considered.

Keywords:

• alcohol use
• growth model
• latent class analysis
• sexual risk
• truancy

Notes

Note. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

Note. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

Note. As indicated in Figure 1, the intercept (level) coefficients were fixed at 1 and the slope (trend) coefficients were fixed at 0, 1, 2, and 4 for baseline, 3-month follow-up, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up, respectively, for linear trends, and 0, 1, 4, and 16 for quadratic trends, respectively. This information is not reported in the table but is available from the corresponding author. Threshold estimates are also excluded and available upon request.

*p < .05.

The proportion of data present for each model can be obtained from the corresponding author upon request.

Due to space concerns, tables reporting these results have been omitted. Copies are available from the corresponding author upon request.

See note 2.

See note 2.

See note 2.

See note 2.