School of Social Work, University of Southern California, 669 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0411, USA.
J Youth Adolesc. 2012 May;41(5):561-71. doi: 10.1007/s10964-011-9709-8. Epub 2011 Aug 24.
Little is known about the social networks of homeless youth in emerging adulthood despite the importance of this information for interventions to reduce health risks. This study examined the composition of social networks, and the risks and supports present within them, in a random sample of 349 homeless youth (33.4% female, 23.9% African American, 17.7% Hispanic) between the ages of 18 and 24. Social network members who were met on the street were among the most likely to be perceived as engaging in risky sex, as well as to engage in substance use with the youth. Youth were more likely to count on relatives and sex partners for support compared to other network members, but they also were more likely to use substances with sex partners and perceived them as engaging in risky sex. Interventions may need to recognize the importance of intimate relationships during the developmental stage of emerging adulthood by enhancing supportive bonds and reducing substance use and risky sex in these relationships.
尽管了解无家可归的青年在成年初期的社交网络对于减少健康风险的干预措施非常重要，但目前对此知之甚少。本研究在一个由 349 名年龄在 18 至 24 岁之间的无家可归青年（33.4%为女性，23.9%为非裔美国人，17.7%为西班牙裔）的随机样本中，考察了社交网络的组成以及其中存在的风险和支持因素。在街上遇到的社交网络成员最有可能被认为有性行为风险，并且与青年一起使用药物。与其他网络成员相比，青年更有可能依赖亲戚和性伴侣获得支持，但他们也更有可能与性伴侣一起使用药物，并认为他们有性行为风险。干预措施可能需要认识到亲密关系在成年初期发展阶段的重要性，通过增强支持性纽带并减少这些关系中的物质使用和性行为风险。
