The 1992 National Health Interview Survey-Youth Risk Behavior Survey (NHIS-YRBS) studied 13,789 youth 12-21 years of age. This report presents the data according to sex, age, Hispanic origin, and race for youth of non-Hispanic origin. The 10 data tables cover: cigarette and other tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, sexual experience, HIV/AIDS…

This paper describes processes used by the state of Florida to ensure that existing subject matter competencies were sufficient to guide preservice health education teacher programs. The project was designed to develop new subject matter competencies for Florida's preK-12 health educators. Procedures included: (1) reviewing existing competencies,…

Health risk appraisals (HRAs) may be useful in the classroom. Potential benefits include: increasing awareness of potential risk, decreasing feelings of overestimated risks, providing feedback, obtaining group data, and increasing motivation to make positive behavior changes. The HRA process involves three components: administering questionnaires…

This focus paper contains reprints of 11 articles intended to provide an overview of the key issues in the area of adolescent behavior change as it relates to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) education. Included are: (1) "Preventing HIV Infection and AIDS in Children and Adolescents" (J.…

Health behavior may be influenced by age, beliefs, and symptomatology. To examine age-related health beliefs and behaviors with respect to six diseases (the common cold, colon-rectal cancer, lung cancer, heart attack, high blood pressure, and senility), 396 adults (196 males, 200 females) divided into three age groups completed a questionnaire…

Health educators are described as having the primary teaching objectives of (1) reduction of premature death rates; (2) reduction of incidences of serious disabling diseases; and (3) promotion of intelligent, self-directed health behavior. Stress is examined as a major factor in ill-health among today's youth, and a rationale is presented for…

A summative research program sought to determine the impact, benefits, and consequences of "Feeling Good"--a series of hour and half-hour broadcasts oriented toward health, produced by Children's Television Workshop for airing on public television, and targeted toward the adult viewing population. The research procedure was a variant of…

This document presents papers, critiques, and comments from a symposium which assessed the current status of preventive dental behavior. The field was divided into the following three major areas: (a) mass media programs, (b) school health programs, and (c) effect of the private practitioner. Each author was asked to review the literature, provide…

The author (1) presents data drawn from a fourteen-week program on oral health care involving second-grade students; (2) concludes that such a program is successful in promoting short-term behavioral change; and (3) stresses the need for periodic reinforcement and repetition to assure behavior maintenance over time. (MB)

This paper describes a two-year project designed to test the effectiveness of a family-based health behavior change intervention in 206 Anglo or Mexican-American families. Methodology and results to date are presented. (MT)

Storytelling can be used to motivate people toward good health behaviors. When Seminole Indians were told health-related folktales, they became more aware of obesity and diabetes problems. Suggestions for developing stories and questions are listed along with recommendations and conclusions. (DF)

Overall, Latino immigrants may be at greater risk for HIV due to lack of information, health services, and culturally relevant resources. Unfortunately, low levels of acculturation and traditional values combined with high levels of poverty and unemployment can negatively influence the risk for HIV. Non-US-born adolescents and those born to…

Adolescence represents a unique period in the life cycle. No longer children and not yet adults, adolescents make significant choices about their health and develop attitudes and health practices that impact their current safety and well-being. Those choices also often influence their risk for future serious chronic disease. Adolescence also…

Teenage sexual activity is a major problem confronting the nation and has led to a rising incidence of sexually transmitted diseases, emotional and psychological injuries, and out-of-wedlock childbearing. Abstinence education programs for youth have proven effective in reducing early sexual activity. They can also provide the foundation for…

Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs are in the nation's schools, sidetracking kids from getting a good education and from building a solid foundation for a productive, healthy life. The good news is that a large-scale evaluation of Project ALERT, the widely used middle-school drug prevention program developed by the RAND Corporation, shows that it…