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AIDS Risk Behaviors among American and Australian Homeless Youth
Author(s) -
Milburn Norweeta G.,
Stein Judith A.,
Rice Eric,
RotheramBorus Mary Jane,
Mallett Shelley,
Rosenthal Doreen,
Lightfoot Marguerita
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1540-4560
pISSN - 0022-4537
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-4560.2007.00523.x
Subject(s) - psychology , positive youth development , youth risk behavior survey , environmental health , structural equation modeling , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , gerontology , medicine , developmental psychology , human factors and ergonomics , poison control , family medicine , statistics , mathematics
We examined HIV/AIDS risk behaviors among homeless youth in cross‐national data collected in Melbourne, Australia (n= 398), and Los Angeles, California (n= 498). Using structural equation modeling, we found that the Australian youth reported greater involvement in AIDS risk behaviors than the American youth and the Australian youth were more involved in intervening risk factors that promote risk behaviors and less involved with protective factors that reduce risk behaviors. Youth reporting the highest rates of delinquent behaviors also had peers engaging in delinquent acts, used alcohol and marijuana, and were more likely to utilize social services. These findings underscore the importance of having a service sector that is able to adequately address the needs of homeless youth .