St. Ennett et al., Social network characteristics associated with risky behaviors among runaway and homeless youth, J HEALTH SO, 40(1), 1999, pp. 63-78
Runaway and homeless youth are at high risk for substance abuse and unsafe
sexual behavior: Our study describes the personal social networks of these
youth and examines network characteristics associated with risky behaviors.
In 1995 and 1996, we interviewed a purposive sample of youth aged 14 throu
gh 21 who were living in Washington, DC and were identified on the streets
or through shelters or other service agencies (N = 327). Although we found
that most youth reported current social relationships, a significant minori
ty (26%) did not Youth without a social network were significantly more lik
ely to report current illicit drug use, multiple sex partners, and survival
sex than youth with a network For youth with a network, the networks were
small, strong in affective and supportive qualities, comprised primarily of
friends, typically included an alcohol or illicit drug user; and usually w
ere not a source of pressure for risky, behaviors. Our results indicate tha
t networks had risk-enhancing and risk-decreasing properties in that networ
k characteristics were associated in both positive and negative directions
with risky behaviors.