Barman-Adhikari Anamika, Rice Eric
University of Southern California School of Social Work.
J Soc Social Work Res. 2011 Jun;2(2):88-103. doi: 10.5243/jsswr.2011.5.
Research shows runaway and homeless youth are reluctant to seek help from traditional health providers. The Internet can be useful in engaging this population and meeting their needs for sexual health information, including information about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Using a sample of homeless youth living in Los Angeles, California in June 2009, this study assesses the frequency with which runaway and homeless youth seek sexual health information via the Internet, and assesses which youth are more likely to engage in seeking health information from online sources. Drawing from Andersen's (1968) health behavior model and Pescosolido's (1992) network episode model, we develop and refine a model for seeking online sexual health information among homeless youth. Rather than testing the predicative strength of a given model, our aim is to identify and explore conceptually driven correlates that may shed light on the characteristics associated with these help seeking behaviors among homeless youth. Analyses using multivariate logistic regression models reveal that among the sample of youth, females and gay males most frequently seek sexual health information online. We demonstrate the structure of social network ties (e.g., connection with parents) and the content of interactions (e.g., e-mail forwards of health information) across ties are critical correlates of online sexual health information seeking. Results show a continued connection with parents via the Internet is significantly associated with youth seeking HIV or STI information. Similarly for content of interactions, more youth who were sent health information online also reported seeking HIV information and HIV-testing information. We discuss implications for intervention and practice, focusing on how the Internet may be used for dissemination of sexual health information and as a resource for social workers to link transient, runaway, and homeless youth to care.
研究表明，离家出走和无家可归的青少年不愿向传统医疗服务提供者寻求帮助。互联网在接触这一人群并满足他们对性健康信息（包括有关艾滋病毒和其他性传播感染的信息）的需求方面可能会有所帮助。本研究以2009年6月居住在加利福尼亚州洛杉矶的无家可归青少年为样本，评估离家出走和无家可归的青少年通过互联网寻求性健康信息的频率，并评估哪些青少年更有可能从在线资源中获取健康信息。借鉴安徒生（1968年）的健康行为模型和佩斯科索利多（1992年）的网络事件模型，我们开发并完善了一个无家可归青少年在线寻求性健康信息的模型。我们的目的不是测试给定模型的预测强度，而是识别和探索概念驱动的相关因素，这些因素可能有助于揭示与无家可归青少年这些寻求帮助行为相关的特征。使用多元逻辑回归模型进行的分析表明，在青少年样本中，女性和男同性恋者最常在线寻求性健康信息。我们证明，社会网络关系的结构（例如与父母的联系）以及关系之间互动的内容（例如健康信息的电子邮件转发）是在线寻求性健康信息的关键相关因素。结果表明，通过互联网与父母保持持续联系与青少年寻求艾滋病毒或性传播感染信息显著相关。同样，对于互动内容，更多收到在线健康信息的青少年也报告寻求艾滋病毒信息和艾滋病毒检测信息。我们讨论了干预和实践的意义，重点关注互联网如何可用于传播性健康信息，以及作为社会工作者将临时、离家出走和无家可归的青少年与护理联系起来的资源。
