2001 Alabama Adolescent Survey State Report

SOCIAL AND FAMILIAL RESOURCES

Are your friends interested in what you think and how you feel?

Gender

Responses

2001

1998

Students who do not have social resources are at greater risk for negative behaviors.  Very few adolescent females indicated that they didn't have friends interested in what they think or how they feel.  On the other hand, approximately one-in-ten males indicated that their friends were not supportive.  This group is a marker for the adoption of high-risk behaviors.

Female

Almost Always

59.9%

63.8%

Sometimes

37.5%

32.8%

Hardly Ever

2.6%

3.1%

Male

Almost Always

33.0%

34.6%

Sometimes

57.1%

55.7%

Hardly Ever

9.8%

9.1%

2001 Alabama Adolescent Survey State Report

SOCIAL AND FAMILIAL RESOURCES

When you have personal problems, do your friends try to understand and let you know they care?

Gender

Responses

2001

1998

The nature of friendships is also an important consideration in peer influence.  Sixty-six percent of females, compared to only 30% of males, reported that their friends try to understand and let them know they care, when they experience personal problems.  The hardly ever groups are the groups that are most likely to have behavioral problems.  This group represented less than five percent of females.  However, among males almost one-in-five did not feel the presence of peer support.

Female

Almost Always

66.2%

71.7%

Sometimes

29.0%

23.9%

Hardly Ever

4.8%

4.2%

Male

Almost Always

30.3%

27.1%

Sometimes

51.5%

48.0%

Hardly Ever

18.1%

24.3%

2001 Alabama Adolescent Survey State Report

SOCIAL AND FAMILIAL RESOURCES

How many of your friends have ever used a needle to inject themselves with a drug?  (you need to be pretty sure that this has happened)

Gender

Responses

2001

1998

Eight percent of female and 14% of male 9th and 10th grade students reported having a friend who had used a needle to inject themselves with a drug.  This group is at greater risk of adopting the behavior, if they have not already initiated it.

Female

I'm Pretty Sure None Have Done This

91.7%

88.0%

One or Two Probably Have

6.0%

9.1%

More Than Two Probably Have

2.3%

2.8%

Male

I'm Pretty Sure None Have Done This

86.3%

81.4%

One or Two Probably Have

8.9%

10.2%

More Than Two Probably Have

4.8%

8.0%

2001 Alabama Adolescent Survey State Report

SOCIAL AND FAMILIAL RESOURCES

How does your very best friend(s) feel about teenagers drinking alcohol?

Gender

Responses

2001

1998

Alcohol consumption is the most common illegal activity among adolescents.  Alcohol is also largely consumed in social environments. Seventy-two percent of students reported that they were either unsure of their friends' feelings towards teenagers drinking alcohol or that their friends did not care.  These data imply that social norms regarding alcohol consumption have not been clearly established.  A stronger campaign on alcohol consumption as a negative behavior should be emphasized.

Female

S/He's against it

31.4%

26.6%

S/He doesn't care

28.3%

30.8%

S/He feels they should drink it if they want it

25.5%

31.2%

I don't know

14.8%

11.0%

Male

S/He's against it

21.9%

16.0%

S/He doesn't care

30.0%

35.0%

S/He feels they should drink it if they want it

32.0%

36.6%

I don't know

16.2%

12.2%

2001 Alabama Adolescent Survey State Report

SOCIAL AND FAMILIAL RESOURCES

How does your very best friend(s) feel about teenagers having sexual intercourse?  (Sexual intercourse is the act by which babies are made, sometimes this is called going all the way.)

Gender

Responses

2001

1998

As with alcohol consumption, social norms influence sexual behaviors.  Ninety-one percent of males and 83% of females reported that their friends were NOT against teenagers having sexual intercourse.  This implies relatively strong social norms that do not emphasize sexual delay among adolescents.

Female

S/He's against it

17.3%

20.3%

S/He doesn't care

25.0%

28.2%

S/He feels they should have it if they want it

35.6%

34.8%

I don't know

22.1%

16.7%

Male

S/He's against it

9.1%

11.7%

S/He doesn't care

27.8%

25.7%

S/He feels they should have it if they want it

42.1%

47.4%

I don't know

21.0%

15.2%

2001 Alabama Adolescent Survey State Report

SOCIAL AND FAMILIAL RESOURCES

Are your parents or guardians interested in what you think and how you feel?

Gender

Responses

2001

1998

Responses were similar for both genders in reporting parental interest in what the adolescent thought or felt.  Groups that have low parental support are considered to be a high-risk group.  Other adult mentors can be a modest substitute for such children.

Female

Almost Always

62.6%

62.3%

Sometimes

28.1%

28.1%

Hardly Ever

9.3%

9.6%

Male

Almost Always

65.0%

64.8%

Sometimes

27.5%

25.9%