Ww. Westhoff et al., ACQUISITION OF HIGH-RISK BEHAVIOR BY AFRICAN-AMERICAN, LATINO, AND CAUCASIAN MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENTS, Psychological reports, 79(3), 1996, pp. 787-795
The purpose of this study was to measure the stages of acquisition of
selected high-risk health behaviors in 768 randomly selected 7th- and
8th-graders in a Florida school district. Specific high-risk health be
haviors included use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs, fighting and weap
on carrying, and suicide ideation. Analysis indicated few behaviors th
at were significantly different when African-American and Latino stude
nts mere compared with Caucasian students. The most weapon carrying wa
s reported by Latinos. Fewer Caucasian students than their minority pe
ers used inhalants. Knowledge of stages of acquisition among small div
erse samples may assist school personnel to intervene during the incul
cation process with appropriate responsive programs.