![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
Future orientation has been found to protect against risky behaviors in adolescents from diverse backgrounds. However, no studies have specifically examined future orientation as a potential protective factor against HIV risk behaviors in foster care adolescents. In this study, 343 foster care adolescents were interviewed about their future orientation, mental health, trauma histories, and cognitions related to HIV risk behaviors. Results indicated variability in future orientation, but there were no significant differences by race, gender, and age. Future orientation was significantly associated with mental health, trauma, HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, behavioral intentions, and number of sexual intercourse partners. Furthermore, externalizing behaviors and attitudes toward risky behaviors each partially mediated the relationship between future orientation and number of sexual intercourse partners.
Acknowledgment
This work was supported by Grant No. R01 HD35445 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the Annie E. Casey Foundation to the George Warren Brown School of Social Work of Washington University. The authors would like to thank the staff at the Children's Division of the St. Louis County Office in Missouri.