Social network characteristics associated with risky behaviors among runaway and homeless youth

Runaway and homeless youth are at high risk for substance abuse and unsafe sexual behavior: Our study describes the personal social networks of these youth and examines network characteristics associated with risky behaviors. In 1995 and 1996, we interviewed a purposive sample of youth aged 14 through 21 who were living in Washington, DC and were identified on the streets or through shelters or other service agencies (N = 327). Although we found that most youth reported current social relationships, a significant minority (26%) did not Youth without a social network were significantly more likely to report current illicit drug use, multiple sex partners, and survival sex than youth with a network For youth with a network, the networks were small, strong in affective and supportive qualities, comprised primarily of friends, typically included an alcohol or illicit drug user; and usually were not a source of pressure for risky, behaviors. Our results indicate that networks had risk-enhancing and risk-decreasing properties in that network characteristics were associated in both positive and negative directions with risky behaviors.