Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Temporal Relationships Between Psychological Distress And Risky Behaviors In A Sample Of Homeless And At-Risk Youth, Tegan Lesperance

Wayne State University Theses

The present study examined temporal relationships between psychological distress and two types of risk behavior; risky sexual behavior and substance abuse/dependence, in a sample of 253 at-risk youth. Using structural equation modeling, the self-medication and risk-first hypotheses were tested using longitudinal data spanning 7 years. Each model lent support to both hypotheses, further supporting the relationship between risk-taking behaviors and psychological distress among youth. Early psychological distress predicted later involvement in risky sexual behaviors, while later distress predicted substance abuse/dependence. Earlier risky sexual behaviors and substance abuse/dependence predicted psychological distress at later time points. These findings suggest the need to …