Local Education Agency Impact on School Environments to Reduce Health Risk Behaviors and Experiences Among High School Students

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health 2022-02, Vol.70 (2), p.313-321
• Main Authors: Robin, Leah, Timpe, Zachary, Suarez, Nicolas A., Li, Jingjing, Barrios, Lisa, Ethier, Kathleen A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Adolescent behavior change; Adolescent health; Behavior change; Birth control; College students; Cross-Sectional Studies; Health behavior; Health education; Health Risk Behaviors; Health status; Humans; Marijuana; Risk behavior; Risk reduction; Risk-Taking; School health; Secondary school students; Secondary schools; Sexual behavior; Students; Substance abuse; Teaching methods
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.08.004

The purpose of the study is to assess associations between exposure to a multilevel, socio-ecological health program administered by local education agencies and changes in health behaviors among high school students. This analysis used a multilevel difference-in-differences approach to compare student health experiences and outcomes between schools selected by local education agencies nationwide to implement the program (exposed schools) and schools that were not (unexposed schools). We measured repeated cross-sectional outcomes using the 2015 and 2017 Youth Risk Behaviors Surveys. The final analytic sample comprised 638 schools in total (N = 64,838 students), with 237 exposed schools (n = 30,336 students) and 401 unexposed schools (n = 34,502 students). Students in exposed schools demonstrated significant reduction in odds compared with those in unexposed schools in ever having sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = .88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .81–.96), having four or more lifetime sexual partners (aOR = .84, 95% CI: .72–.97), being currently sexually active (aOR = .78, 95% CI: .78–.96), and using effective hormonal birth control (aOR = .7, 95% CI: .56–.88). Exposure to the program was associated with significant reduction in odds of not going to school because of safety concerns (aOR = .87, 95% CI: .78–.97), having experienced forced sex (aOR = .76, 95% CI: .68–.86), ever used marijuana (aOR = .89, 95% CI: .81–.98), and currently using marijuana (aOR = .77, 95% CI: .64–.93). Exposure to the program was associated with significant decreases in sexual risk behaviors, experience of violence, and substance use.