| Affiliation: | (1) Health Education, Physical Education, Health, and Sport Studies, Miami University, Oxford, OH;(2) Health Promotion, Education and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC;(3) School Psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC;(4) Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC;(5) Family and Preventive Medicine, Schools of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC;(6) Department of Physical Education, Health, and Sport Studies, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056 |
| Abstract: | Relationships between perceived life satisfaction and family structure were examined among 5,021 public high school adolescents using the self-report CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Adjusted multiple logistic regression analyses and multivariate models (via SUDAAN) constructed separately, revealed significant race by gender effects. Living with other relatives, non-relatives, or guardians was significantly related (p < .01) to reported life dissatisfaction for all race and gender groups, except black males. However, white females and males living with both parents were significantly less likely (p < .001) to report dissatisfaction with life. Black females living with their mothers only were also significantly less likely (p < .001) to report dissatisfaction with life while black males living with their fathers only and white females living with their mother and another adult/adults were significantly more likely (p < .01) to report dissatisfaction with life. Differing family structures appear to exert disparate effects for life satisfaction on adolescents as a function of race and/or gender. Thus, a particular health promotion intervention may not benefit all adolescents. Intervention efforts must be tailored to adolescents’ specific race and gender characteristics. |
