Health-Risk Behaviors and Protective Factors Among Adolescents in Rural British Columbia

© 2019 National Rural Health Association..

PURPOSE: This study explores the relationship between rural residency, selected protective factors (family and school connectedness along with prosocial peer attitudes), and health-compromising behaviors (alcohol and tobacco use and nonuse of seatbelt) among adolescents.

METHODS: A subsample of adolescents residing in remote areas was extracted from a province-wide, school-based survey in British Columbia (BC), Canada (weighted N = 2,999). We employed χ2 statistic to test rural-urban differences separately by gender. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between protective factors and behaviors compromising health.

FINDINGS: In boys, rural residency was associated with multiple problem behaviors (binge drinking, smokeless tobacco use, and nonuse of seatbelt), whereas for girls it was linked to riding without a seatbelt. The final logistic regression models confirmed that rural environment was a significant risk factor for not wearing a seatbelt among both boys and girls, and smokeless tobacco among boys (adjusted odds ratio between 1.44 and 3.05). Rurality, on the other hand, did not predict binge drinking. Logistic regression analyses also revealed that both school connectedness and prosocial peer attitude protected boys against binge drinking and smokeless tobacco, but the results were not as robust for girls.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings could provide information for location-based intervention efforts promoting adolescent health, highlighting the protective role of the school atmosphere and prosocial peer relationships, especially among boys.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2020

Erschienen:

2020

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:36

Enthalten in:

The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association - 36(2020), 1 vom: 22. Jan., Seite 65-76

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Géczy, István [VerfasserIn]
Saewyc, Elizabeth M [VerfasserIn]
Poon, Colleen S [VerfasserIn]
Homma, Yuko [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Adolescents
Gender differences
Journal Article
Protective factors
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Risk behaviors
Rural-urban health disparities

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 22.03.2021

Date Revised 22.03.2021

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1111/jrh.12389

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM300221282