Health status and behavioral outcomes for youth who anticipate a high likelihood of early death

Iris Wagman Borowsky, Marjorie Ireland, Michael D. Resnick

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

87 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between adolescents' perceived risk for dying and their involvement in risk behaviors is unknown. We sought to determine the proportion of US youth who anticipate a high likelihood of early mortality and relationships with health status and risk behaviors over time. METHODS: We analyzed data from times 1 (1995), 2 (1996), and 3 (2001-2002) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative sample of youth in grades 7 through 12. The relationship between perceived risk for premature mortality and health behaviors/outcomes was assessed by using bivariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: At time 1, 14.7% of the 20 594 respondents reported at least a 50/50 chance that they would not live to age 35. In adjusted models, illicit drug use, suicide attempt, fight-related injury, police arrest, unsafe sexual activity, and a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS predicted early death perception at time 2, time 3, or both (adjusted odds ratios: 1.26-5.12). Conversely, perceived early mortality at time 1 predicted each of these behaviors and outcomes, except illicit drug use, at time 2 or time 3, most strongly a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS (adjusted odds ratios: 7.13 [95% confidence interval: 2.50-20.36]). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent involvement in risk behaviors predicted a belief in premature mortality 1 and 7 years later. Reciprocally, adolescents' perceived risk for early death predicted serious health outcomes, notably a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS in young adulthood. Given its frequency and influence on behavior and health, adolescents' perceived risk for early death should be incorporated into psychosocial assessments and interviews.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)e81-e88
JournalPediatrics
Volume124
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2009

Keywords

  • Adolescent health
  • HIV
  • Health outcomes
  • Perceptions of mortality
  • Risk behaviors

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Health status and behavioral outcomes for youth who anticipate a high likelihood of early death'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this