Posts
Depression is known to be associated
with risk-taking by adolescents. Yet Canadian studies on the topic “are few,
many have lacked appropriate controls, and none has examined the associations
of depression with multiple sexual risk-taking behaviors,” the authors noted.
In the current study, the research team tested associations between multiple
sexual risk-taking and risk of depression — while controlling for factors
including social capital — among high-school students in Nova Scotia.
The survey respondents — sexually
active male (n=418) and female (n=467) adolescents — were asked about their
risk of depression, perceptions of social capital, substance use,
sociodemographic factors and sexual behaviors. Associations of risk of
depression with various levels of risk-taking were determined by multinomial
logistic regressions.
Unadjusted models showed risk of
depression was associated with two or more versus no sexual risk behaviors for
males and females alike. After controlling for other variables, the risk of
depression remained significantly associated with two or more sexual risks
versus no risk for females and males (relative risk ratios of 2.5; 95 percent
confidence interval 1.4-4.5 and 3.5; 95 percent CI 1.6-7.82, respectively) and
for one risk versus no risks for females (RRR=1.9; 95 percent CI 1.1-3.5).
Among females, one measure of social capital was associated with multiple
risks.
“The consistent, independent
associations of risk of depression with multiple sexual risks should lead
health care workers interacting with adolescents to ask about sexual risk
behaviors among patients with symptoms of depression,” the authors concluded.
“Alternatively, patients who engage in sexual risk-taking might be screened for
depression.”
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
