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. 2013 Nov 1;22(5):370-387.
doi: 10.1080/1067828X.2013.788880.

Intervention Effects on Health-Risking Sexual Behavior Among Girls in Foster Care: The Role of Placement Disruption and Tobacco and Marijuana Use

Hyoun K Kim  1 , Katherine C Pears, Leslie D Leve, Patricia C Chamberlain, Dana K Smith
Affiliations

Intervention Effects on Health-Risking Sexual Behavior Among Girls in Foster Care: The Role of Placement Disruption and Tobacco and Marijuana Use

Hyoun K Kim et al. J Child Adolesc Subst Abuse. .

Abstract

The present study examined the effects of the Middle School Success intervention (MSS), a program to promote healthy adjustment in foster girls, on their health-risking sexual behavior, using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. As hypothesized, girls in the intervention condition (n = 48) showed significantly lower levels of health-risking sexual behavior than did girls in the control condition (n = 52) at 36 months postbaseline. Further path analysis indicated that this intervention effect was fully mediated through its effects on girls' tobacco and marijuana use. Findings highlight the importance of providing preventive intervention services to foster girls during early adolescence.

Keywords: adolescent; foster care; girls; health-risking sexual behavior; intervention; tobacco and marijuana use.

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Figure 1
Figure 1
Mediating effects of tobacco and marijuana use on health-risking sexual behavior in foster care girls.
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