Background
People involved in the
justice system are at 2.5 times the risk of HIV infection compared to the
general population, which is further complicated by substance abuse. The
purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of social network quality and quantity on unprotected sex, criminal risk, and
substance use.
Methods
We used data from 330
drug-involved offenders. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to model
and test path directionality and magnitude between the latent constructs of
social support quality and quantity on risky behaviors.
Results
The SEM indicated the
latent construct of social support quality was significantly associated with
reduced sexual risk behavior (β = −0.27), criminal risk (β = −0.26), and
reduced substance use (β = −0.33). Additionally, the proposed model found that
social support quantity was significantly positively associated with increased
sexual risk behavior (β = 0.40) and substance use (β = 0.20).
Conclusions
Social support quality
is an important predictor of risky behaviors; as the quality of an offender’s
social support increases, engagement in risky behaviors decreases. Probationers
who had broader social support availability also had increased substance use
and unprotected sex. Probation systems may be able to reduce substance use and
STD/HIV infection risk in offenders by strengthening the quality of social
support networks.
Below: Structural Model of Social Support Quality and Quantity on Risk Taking Behaviors
Full article at: http://goo.gl/VmUAv0
University of
North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, USA
George Mason University,
Fairfax, VA USA
More at: https://twitter.com/hiv insight
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