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Timothy A Roberts

Publications and source records attributed to Timothy A Roberts.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Predictors of partner abuse in a nationally representative sample of adolescents involved in heterosexual dating relationships.

This article's goals are to identify the characteristics of abusive heterosexual dating relationships among adolescents. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health dataset, an analysis of 4,441 heterosexual relationships was completed using logistic regression models (SAS PROC GENMOD). The associations between being verbally and physically abused were examined with respect to the following relationship characteristics: involvement in sexual intercourse or pregnancy with the relationship partner, description of the relationship as a "special romantic relationship," duration of the relationship, age at relationship initiation, and age difference between partners. The findings indicate that involvement in a sexual or "special romantic" relationship was associated with greater likelihood of being abused in both genders. Increased length of time in the relationship was associated with verbal abuse in both genders. Involvement in a pregnancy was associated with being verbally and physically abused among males. It is thus concluded that relationship characteristics play an important role in the development of abusive relationships among adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Intimate partner abuse and the reproductive health of sexually active female adolescents.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between verbal and minor physical abuse by an intimate partner and reproductive health behavior. METHODS: Logistic regression analyses of 1996 cross-sectional data from 973 sexually active, dating female adolescents surveyed for wave II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health Public Use Dataset examining the relationship between abuse by an intimate partner and reproductive health. We measured verbal (insulted in public, sworn at, or threatened with violence) and minor physical (threw something at them, pushed them, or shoved them) abuse by any intimate partner during the past 18 months and by any current intimate partner. Reproductive health variables included condom use with most recent intercourse, contraception use with most recent intercourse, history of sexually transmitted infection, and history of pregnancy. RESULTS: After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, number of intimate partners, and history of forced sexual intercourse, the current involvement in a verbally abusive relationship was associated with not using a condom during the most recent intercourse (odds ratio, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.40), and both a history of involvement and current involvement in a physically abusive relationship were associated with a history of pregnancy (odds ratio, 2.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.47-4.17; and odds ratio, 3.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.85-6.67, respectively). Neither verbal nor physical abuse were associated with the other reproductive health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Physical abuse by an intimate partner is associated with pregnancy and current involvement in a verbally abusive relationship is associated with decreased condom use among sexually experienced female adolescents. Health care providers should be attentive to the association between abuse and pregnancy among adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Suicidal behavior in the family and adolescent risk behavior.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and sociodemographic characteristics of adolescents exposed to suicide attempts and suicide deaths by a family member and to evaluate the separate associations between exposure to a family member's suicide attempts or suicide death and risk behaviors, social-emotional functioning, and family connectedness. METHOD: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data collected in 1995 for wave I of the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health (n = 5,918). The independent variable was the exposure to suicidal behavior by a family member during the past 12 months (death by suicide, suicide attempt, and no suicidal behavior). The dependent variables were substance use, suicidal behavior, violent behavior, perceived shortened life expectancy, emotional distress, and parental and adolescent reports of family connectedness. RESULTS: In the year before the survey, 3.9% of adolescents experienced a family member's suicide attempt whereas 1.2% experienced a family member's death by suicide. In regression analyses adjusting for sociodemographic variables, adolescents who had experienced the suicide attempt of a family member were more likely than those with no exposure to report the following: cigarette and marijuana use, alcohol misuse, suicidal ideation and attempts, fighting and inflicting injuries, decreased life-expectancy, emotional distress, and decreased adolescent reports of parent-child and family connectedness. Adolescents who had experienced a family member's death by suicide were more likely to report marijuana use and alcohol misuse, suicidal ideation and attempts, inflicting severe injuries, and emotional distress. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents who have experienced suicide attempts or suicide deaths in the family show high levels of at-risk behaviors, most notably their own suicidal ideation and attempts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Peer suicidal behavior and adolescent risk behavior.

The relationship between adolescent suicide attempts and death by suicide and psychosocial functioning of peers remains poorly understood, especially in the myriad ways that these suicidal behaviors might impact friends. This study explored the relationship between peer suicidal behavior and adolescent risk behavior using a large, nationally representative sample of adolescents (N = 5852). Results indicate that youth exposed to peer suicidal behavior are significantly more likely to have their own suicidal ideation and attempts, and to smoke cigarettes and marijuana, binge drink, be involved in a serious physical fight, and have inflicted injuries that require medical attention. These results highlight the need for professionals to be aware of these risks in friends of those who have attempted or died by suicide. Assessment and intervention for peers is appropriate and required for this at-risk group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Body piercing and high-risk behavior in adolescents.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association of body piercing with sociodemographic factors, peer substance use, and high-risk behaviors. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis using Wave II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) Public Use Dataset, a nationally representative, school-based sample of 4337 adolescents, aged 13-18 years, surveyed in 1996. The major predictor variable was body piercing at locations other than the ears. The outcome variables were selected from five areas of high-risk behaviors including sexual intercourse, substance use (problem drinking, smoking, and marijuana use), violent behavior (fighting and inflicting injuries), antisocial behavior (truancy, shoplifting, and running away), and mood problems (depression, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts). The association between body piercing and peer substance use was also examined. RESULTS: Females (7.2% vs. 1.5%) and older adolescents were more likely to report piercing (all p's <.01) In linear regression analysis, controlling for sociodemographic factors, body piercing was significantly associated with higher levels of peer substance use (beta = 1.40 [99% CI.57-2.23]). In logistic regression analyses, controlling for sociodemographic factors, piercing was associated with sexual intercourse (OR = 4.5 [99% CI 2.1-10.0]), smoking (3.1 [1.6-5.9]), marijuana use (3.0 [1.6-5.9]), truancy (2.6 [1.3-5.3]), running away from home (3.0 [1.2-7.2]), suicidal ideation (2.5 [1.2-4.9]), and suicide attempts (3.0 [1.2-7.5]). CONCLUSIONS: Clinically, body piercing may serve as a marker for higher levels of peer substance use and potential problem behavior.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Intimate partner abuse and high-risk behavior in adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the associations between abuse by an intimate partner and risk behaviors among adolescents and to determine whether these associations vary by gender. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Ordinal and linear regression analyses of 1996 cross-sectional data from 4347 adolescents surveyed for wave 2 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health public use data set. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A 5-point scale was used to measure whether the adolescent had been the victim of any of the following behaviors by an intimate partner: insulted in public, sworn at, threatened with violence, or had something thrown at them. Risk behavior involvement was determined using 5 measures: substance use, antisocial behavior, violent behavior, suicidal behavior, and depressed mood. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the frequency of abuse by an intimate partner for males (21.0%) vs females (22.1%). In females, after adjusting for sociodemographic factors and number of intimate partners, a history of abuse was significantly associated with substance use (values given as beta, 99% confidence interval) (0.87, 0.51-1.23), antisocial behavior (0.15, 0.10-0.20), violent behavior (0.06, 0.01-0.11), depressed mood (1.82, 1.21-2.43), and suicidal behavior (odds ratio, 1.37, 1.14-1.63). In males, abuse was independently associated with antisocial behavior (0.11, 0.03-0.19), violent behavior (0.09, 0.04-0.14), and depressed mood (1.29, 0.53-2.06). Abuse by an intimate partner had a significantly stronger association with substance use in females (0.87, 0.51-1.23) vs males (0.34, -0.09 to 0.77). CONCLUSIONS: Abuse by an intimate partner is common among adolescents and has strong associations with risk behaviors among male and female victims of abuse.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Longitudinal effect of intimate partner abuse on high-risk behavior among adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the longitudinal effect of abuse by an intimate partner on risk behavior among adolescents. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Linear regression analyses of longitudinal data from 4443 adolescents surveyed in 1995 (Wave I) and 1996 (Wave II) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health Public Use Dataset. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Abuse was assessed using a 5-point scale measuring if the subject had been insulted in public, sworn at, threatened with violence, pushed or shoved, or had something thrown at them by an intimate partner. The primary outcome measures were changes between Waves I and II in each of the following 5-risk behaviors: illicit substance use, antisocial behavior, violent behavior, suicidal behavior, and depression. RESULTS: Abuse between Waves I and II was associated with higher rates of all 5 risk behaviors at both Waves I and II among both sexes. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, number of intimate partners, time between interviews, baseline risk behavior scores, and the most abusive relationship experienced prior to Wave I, more severe abuse having occurred between Waves I and II was significantly associated with increased levels of depression in both sexes and increased involvement in illicit substance use, antisocial behavior, and suicidal behavior among female adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Abuse by an intimate partner is associated with higher levels of risk behavior in both sexes and incident abuse is associated with increased depression in both sexes and increased illicit substance use, antisocial behavior, and suicidal behavior among females. Intimate partner violence interventions should address the negative behaviors associated with abuse, particularly among female adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Tattoos and body piercings as indicators of adolescent risk-taking behaviors.

PURPOSE: This study assessed tattoos and body piercings as markers of risk-taking behaviors in adolescents. METHODS: A 58-question survey, based on the 1997 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Survey, was offered to all adolescent beneficiaries that came to the Adolescent Clinic. The survey contained standard Youth Risk Behavior Survey questions that inquire about eating behavior, violence, drug abuse, sexual behavior, and suicide. Questions about tattoos and body piercings were added for the purposes of this study. RESULTS: Participants with tattoos and/or body piercings were more likely to have engaged in risk-taking behaviors and at greater degrees of involvement than those without either. These included disordered eating behavior, gateway drug use, hard drug use, sexual activity, and suicide. Violence was associated with males having tattoos and with females having body piercings. Gateway drug use was associated with younger age of both tattooing and body piercing. Hard drug use was associated with number of body piercings. Suicide was associated with females having tattoos and younger age of both tattooing and body piercing. Tattoos and body piercings were found to be more common in females than males. CONCLUSIONS: Tattoos and/or body piercings can alert practitioners to the possibility of other risk-taking behaviors in adolescents, leading to preventive measures, including counseling. Tattoo and body piercing discovery should be an important part of a health maintenance visit to best direct adolescent medical care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Tattooing and high-risk behavior in adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the prevalence and sociodemographic characteristics of tattooed adolescents in a nationally representative sample and to evaluate the association between tattooing and several high-risk behaviors. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health Public Use Dataset, which provides a nationally representative sample of 6072 adolescents collected in 1995 and 1996. The association among permanent tattoos, sociodemographic factors, and high-risk behaviors was evaluated using bivariate and logistic regression analyses using SUDAAN. RESULTS: Of the total sample of youths, 4.5% reported having permanent tattoos. Tattooing was significantly associated with older age, living in a single-parent household, and lower socioeconomic status but was not significantly associated with gender, ethnicity, or neighborhood type. Tattooing was strongly associated with peer substance use. Adjusting for sociodemographic factors and peer substance use, tattooing in adolescents was independently and significantly associated with reported sexual intercourse, substance use, violent behaviors, and school problems. CONCLUSION: Permanent tattoos are strongly associated with high-risk behaviors among adolescents. In the clinical setting, the presence of a tattoo noted during clinical examination of an adolescent should prompt in-depth assessment for a variety of high-risk behaviors.

Adolescent↗