Browsing by Author "Palen, Lori-Ann"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Inconsistent reports of sexual intercourse among South African high school students
    (Elsevier, 2008) Palen, Lori-Ann; Smith, Edward A.; Caldwell, Linda L.; Flisher, Alan J.; Wegner, Lisa; Vergnani, Tania
    Purpose: This study aims to describe patterns of inconsistent reports of sexual intercourse among a sample of South African adolescents. Methods: Consistency of reported lifetime sexual intercourse was assessed using five semiannual waves of data. Odds ratios related inconsistent reporting to demographic variables and potential indicators of general and risk-behavior-specific reliability problems. Results: Of the sexually active participants in the sample, nearly 40% reported being virgins after sexual activity had been reported at an earlier assessment. Inconsistent reporting could not be predicted by gender or race or by general indicators of poor reliability (inconsistent reporting of gender and birth year). However individuals with inconsistent reports of sexual intercourse were more likely to be inconsistent reporters of substance use. Conclusions: These results suggest that researchers need to undertake efforts to deal specifically with inconsistent risk behavior data. These may include modification of data collection procedures and use of statistical methodologies that can account for response inconsistencies
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    Leisure constraints for adolescents in Cape Town, South Africa: a qualitative study
    (Taylor and Francis, 2010) Palen, Lori-Ann; Patrick, Megan E.; Gleeson, Sarah; Caldwell, Linda L.; Smith, Edward A.; Wegner, Lisa; Flisher, Alan J.
    This study identified leisure constraints, constraints negotiation strategies, and their relative frequencies among 114 high school students from one under-resourced area of South Africa. Through focus group discussions, participants identified intrapersonal, interpersonal, structural, and sociocultural constraints to leisure, suggesting some degree of universality in this previously documented typology. Intrapersonal constraints were mentioned most often. Whereas participants readily identified ways to overcome interpersonal and structural constraints, strategies for overcoming intrapersonal and sociocultural constraints were not mentioned frequently, suggesting a potential need to help adolescents identify and employ these types of strategies.
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    Profiles of adolescent leisure motivation and substance use in the HealthWise South Africa research trial: a person-centered approach
    (Routledge, 2018) Weybright, Elizabeth H.; Palen, Lori-Ann; Caldwell, Linda L.; Wegner, Lisa; Jacobs, Joachim J.; Smith, Edward
    Engaging in intrinsically motivated behaviors, both within and outside of the leisure context, is associated with well-being. However, individuals can be driven by multiple types of motivation simultaneously, and the impact of constellations of leisure motivation is relatively unknown. The current study uses South African adolescents in the HealthWise South Africa efficacy trial (N¼2,204; Mage¼14.0) to identify profiles of leisure motivation, examine the association between profiles and substance use, and evaluate the impact of HealthWise on changes in motivation profiles over time. Results indicate three distinct profiles: high consistent motivation, low consistent motivation, and high intrinsic motivation. Members of the high intrinsic profile had the lowest odds of substance use. Profiles were fairly stable across all time points except for females in a high-training intervention school. Results illustrate the importance of identifying and understanding typologies of leisure motivation and health across time, which can be used to promote positive development in adolescents.
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    A qualitative assessment of South African adolescents’ motivations for and against substance use and sexual behavior
    (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010) Patrick, Megan E.; Palen, Lori-Ann; Caldwell, Linda L.; Gleeson, Sarah; Smith, E.D.; Wegner, Lisa
    Focus groups (N 5 15 groups; 8 with girls, 7 with boys) with adolescents in high schools near Cape Town, South Africa, were used to conduct a qualitative investigation of reported reasons for using and not using substances and for having and not having sex. Adolescents reported Enhancement, Negative States, Social, and Aversive Social motivations for both sub- stance use and sexual behavior. In addition, being addicted as a reason for using drugs and rape as a context for sexual behavior were frequently reported. Motivations against behaviors included Physical/Behavioral Consequences, Ethical Objections, Social Disapproval, and Incompatible Activities and Goals reasons. Preventive interventions should address existing motivations for and against substance use and sexual behavior to acknowledge adolescents’ experiences in context.