Decade-long OU study offers important insights on prevention

The teenage years are fraught with peril and risk, and just about everyone--parents, teachers, community leaders--would like to know how best to discourage teens from engaging in risky behavior. Now, results of a decade-long study by researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center may point the way.

Roy Oman, Ph.D., and fellow researchers at the OU College of Public Health have just completed the Youth Asset Study, a 10-year research project aimed at learning what assets help teens avoid risky behavior.

Risky behavior in teens comes in many forms, including alcohol use, drug use, violence, weapon carrying, gang affiliations. However, Oman said the study found the most worrisome example of high risk behavior among teens is sexual activity resulting in pregnancy.

"Of the industrialized nations in the world, the United States has by far the highest teen pregnancy and teen birth rates," Oman said. "And then when you look at the states, Oklahoma has the fifth highest teen birth rate in the country."

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