Extrafamilial Factors Research Articles

The social ecology of aggression in youths with autism spectrum disorder.

This study examined the social-ecological correlates of aggressive behavior in 120 youths with autism spectrum disorder. Youths were divided into three groups based on caregiver reports of the youth's aggressive acts: youths who engaged in acts of both physical and verbal aggression, youths who engaged only in acts of physical aggression, and nonaggressive youths. Caregivers and youths completed self-report instruments and behavior rating inventories that assessed youth individual functioning, family relations, and extrafamilial factors (i.e., peer relations, academic performance). Results showed that youths who engaged in both verbal and physical aggression were characterized by poor sleep quality and victimization by peers, and their caregivers evidenced high levels of distress and avoidant coping. In contrast, youths who were physically but not verbally aggressive were distinguished by difficulties in social interaction and communication. In general, each group of youths who were aggressive experienced more problems with repetitive behaviors, family relations, and academic performance than did their nonaggressive counterparts. The implications of these findings for theory, research, and treatment are discussed. Autism Res 2019. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: The present study demonstrated that youths with autism spectrum disorder may be classified by the types of aggressive behaviors that they exhibit: youths who are verbally and physically aggressive, physically aggressive only, or not aggressive. Compared to the nonaggressive group, both groups of youths who were aggressive experienced difficulties in their individual, family, peer, and academic functioning. Youths with both verbal and physical aggression showed the most problems in their functioning.

Prevalence and Correlates of Enjo Kousai, School Girl and Boy Prostitution, in Japan

<em>Utilizing an ecological risk framework, this study investigates individual, familial, and extra familial risk factors that correlate to involvement in Enjo Kousai (school girl/boy prostitution) among Japanese youth. The sample (N=802) for this study is a diverse and fairly representative sample of post-secondary students from a range of vocational schools, colleges, and universities in the Sapporo area of Hokkaido, Japan. Nearly one out of 10 males and one out of 25 females reported engaging in this behavior. This research suggests that both females and males who experience certain life events are at higher risk for being involved in Enjo Kousai. For females, a history of sexual abuse, drug use, depressive symptoms, a parent who has been in prison, and a father who visits Fuzoku (brothels) were significant predictors of involvement in Enjo Kousai. For the male sample, a history of sexual abuse, drug use, a parent who has been in prison and living in an unsafe neighborhood were significant predictors of participating in Enjo Kousai.</em>

Common Themes in the Life Stories of Unaccompanied Homeless Youth in High School: Implications for Educators

In this study, we explored the life stories of unaccompanied homeless youth (UHY) who continued to attend high school despite no longer being in the custody of a parent or guardian. A qualitative approach allowed participants to share their life stories in their own words. Nine students (five males, four females) ranging in age from 17 to 20 were recruited from a community-based organization serving homeless youth to participate in individual interviews. Thematic analysis revealed nine themes reflecting chaotic, impoverished family environments marked by multiple forms of abuse juxtaposed with individual and extrafamilial factors promoting resilience. Implications for supporting UHY in schools are discussed.

Exploring Individual, Family, and Extrafamilial Factors Associated With Depression Among Elderly Residents of Care Settings

This study investigated simultaneously the associations among individual, family, and extrafamilial factors and depression among elderly residents of care settings in Taiwan. The data for this study were obtained from the Vulnerability and Social Exclusion among Different Groups of Disadvantaged Elderly in an Aging Society: Phenomena and Strategies (1/2) project, which was conducted in Taipei City and Taipei County in 2007. We applied multiple regression procedures to a sample of 327 residents of care settings (48.3% women) who were mild physical impairment or physically independent and cognitively clear for determining factors associated with depression and their cumulative effects. We discovered that 24.5% of the residents were depressed. Physical mobility, number of chronic diseases, and self-assessed health status were significantly associated factors in all models. In the final model, we determined that one third of extrafamilial factors were significantly associated with depression, after controlling for all other variables. In addition, we observed an overall trend of increased mean scores of depression with an increase in the number of risk factors. The results imply that interventions aimed at preventing depression in elderly persons living in care settings, particularly persons with multiple risk conditions such as impaired physical mobility and medical comorbidities, should be designed to include extrafamilial elements. Establishing strong connections between elderly care setting residents and the institutional and neighborhood environments can help prevent depression.

The Development of Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence: An Examination of Key Correlates Among a Sample of Young Adults.

Social learning theory remains one of the leading explanations of intimate partner violence (IPV). Research on attitudes toward IPV represents a logical extension of the social learning tradition, as it is intuitive to expect that individuals exposed to violence in the family of origin may internalize behavioral scripts for violence and adopt attitudes accepting of IPV. Yet despite this assumed link between family violence and attitudes toward IPV, few studies have empirically examined factors associated with the development of such attitudes. Using data from the Toledo Adolescent Relationship Study (TARS), we examine the role of family violence on the adoption of attitudes accepting of IPV among a sample of young adults ( n = 928). The current investigation contributes to existing literature on attitudes toward IPV by (a) providing an empirical examination of factors associated with attitudes toward IPV in predictive models; (b) relying on a multifaceted index, describing specific conditions under which IPV may be deemed justifiable; (c) examining extra-familial factors, in addition to family violence exposure, to provide a more comprehensive account of factors associated with attitudes toward IPV; and (d) focusing particular attention on the role of gender, including whether the factors associated with attitudinal acceptance of IPV are similar for men and women. Findings indicated considerable variation in overall endorsement of attitudes regarding the use of violence across conditions, with greater endorsement among women. Consistent with social learning approaches to IPV, exposure to violence in the family of origin was associated with attitudes toward IPV. Yet findings also signaled the salience of factors beyond the family, including a range of sociodemographic, relationship, and adult status characteristics. We discuss the relevance of our findings for future theorizing and research in the area of attitudes toward IPV.

Factors Associated With Early Sexual Experience Among American Indian and Alaska Native Youth

PurposeAmerican Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth experience disparities associated with sexual and reproductive health, including early age of sexual initiation. Identifying factors that are most proximally related to early sexual intercourse and that are modifiable through health promotion interventions may help to reduce these disparities. Using a multisystem approach, we assessed individual (biological, psychological, and behavioral), familial, and extrafamilial (peer behavioral) factors associated with lifetime sexual experience among AI/AN early adolescents living in three geographically dispersed U.S. regions. MethodsWe analyzed cross-sectional data from 537 AI/AN youth aged 12–14 years, recruited from 27 study sites in Alaska, Arizona, and the Pacific Northwest. We used multilevel logistic regression models to estimate associations between independent variables and lifetime sexual intercourse (oral and/or vaginal sex) individually, within discrete systems, and across systems. ResultsThe analytical sample was 55.1% female, with a mean age of 13.2 years (standard deviation = 1.06 years); 6.5% were sexually experienced. In the final model, we found that lower next-year intentions to have oral or vaginal sex (psychological factors), avoidance of risky situations, and nonuse of alcohol (behavioral factors) were associated with lower odds of lifetime sexual intercourse (all p ≤ .01). No other variables were significantly associated with lifetime sexual intercourse. ConclusionsInterventions that reduce sexual intentions, exposure to risky situations, and alcohol use may help to delay sexual initiation among AI/AN early adolescents.

Interaction Effects Between Exposure to Sexually Explicit Online Materials and Individual, Family, and Extrafamilial Factors on Hong Kong High School Students’ Beliefs About Gender Role Equality and Body-Centered Sexuality

This study examined the interaction effects between Hong Kong adolescents’ exposure to sexually explicit online materials (SEOM) and individual, family, peer, and cultural factors on their beliefs about gender role equality and body-centered sexuality. Based on a survey design with a sample of 503 high school students in Hong Kong, the results indicated that adolescents’ frequency of accessing SEOM, their intrapersonal reactions to SEOM, their communication with parents about sexuality, their susceptibility to peer pressure, and their acceptance of cultural values regarding sex roles work jointly to affect their conceptions of gender and sexuality, although the main and interaction effects differ across variables. The results partially supported the hypotheses that individual responses to SEOM and relationships with parents and peers with regard to sexuality interact with SEOM exposure in affecting the outcomes. The study provided evidence for the adoption of an ecological perspective to guide the provision of sexuality education.

Validation de l’inventaire des facteurs de résilience (IFR-40)

Bekaert, Masclet and Caron's inventory of resilience factors (IRF-40) is a French measurement scale which measures the protection factors combining to bring about resilience in adolescents. This three-dimension measurement instrument has been worked out on the basis of a literary review aiming at identifying all the protection factors reported in the research studies. An exploratory factorial analysis with oblimin rotation carried out on a sample of 299 adolescents enabled to underline the three-dimension structure (familial protection factors: personal protection factors; extra-familial protection factors) including 40 items. The study of the internal consistency reveals high coefficients for the whole scale (0.91) as well as for the different dimensions (0.77 to 0.91). The examination of the convergent validity shows significant correlations with the life satisfaction scale (r=0.61) and the psychological well-being scale (r=0.72). As for the temporal stability (n=73), a measure of 0.92 was obtained. The present research aims at completing the evaluation of the psychometric properties of the IRF-40 on a sample of adolescents. With the intention of bringing to light the structure of the instrument, a confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA) was carried out on 414 adolescents (average age=14.96). The analyses carried out approve of the three-dimension structure of the scale. The study of the divergent validity (n=123) has brought to light a high and significant correlation (r=–0.757) between the IRF-40 and Berndt and Kaiser’ s composite depression scale as well as a significant correlation between the IRF-40 and the under scale of the MDI-C (r varies between –0.294 and –0.563). In addition, the IRF-40 enables to differentiate the adolescents exposed to a traumatism and who have depression scores to those who experience no depression. Indeed, the participants not experiencing depression obtain significantly higher scores on the IRF-40 (U=282.5; P=0.001) in comparison with the participants experiencing depression. What is more, it appears that the latter score lower familial protection factors (U=443.5; P=0.001), personal protection factors (U=390; P=0.001) and extra-familial factors (U=629; P=0.001) than those who do not experience depression. As a conclusion, the results of the present study show a very probant image of the psychometric qualities of the IRF-40 and support its use on a population of adolescents.

Factors influencing the food choices of Irish children and adolescents: a qualitative investigation

Food choices established during childhood and adolescence tend to persist into adulthood with consequences for long-term health. Yet, to date, relatively little research has examined factors that influence the food choices of children and adolescents from their perspectives. In this article, previous research is extended by examining developmental differences between children's and adolescents' perceptions of factors influencing their food choices. Focus group discussions were conducted with 29 young people from three age groups (9-10, 13-14 and 16-18 years). An inductive thematic analysis identified three key factors as influencing food choices. These factors included intra-individual factors: the link between food preferences and awareness of healthy eating; intra-familial factors: the role of the home food environment; and extra-familial factors: eating away from the home. Findings indicate that there were developmental differences between children's and adolescents' perceptions of factors influencing food choice. Among adolescents, parental control began to diminish and adolescents exercised increased autonomy over their food choices compared with children. To develop effective nutrition interventions, it is important to gather child and adolescent input regarding factors perceived as influencing their food choices.

Individual, familial and extra-familial factors associated with premarital sex among Bangladeshi male adolescents

A national survey found that more than one-tenth of unmarried Bangladeshi adolescents were sexually experienced and much of this experience involves high-risk behaviours such as unprotected sexual intercourse with commercial sex workers. However, very few studies have explored the factors that contribute to premarital sex among Bangladeshi adolescents. Data are from the 2004 Adolescent Reproductive Health Communication Midline Survey, a national survey in Bangladesh. Multivariate statistical methods were applied to identify risk and protective factors for premarital sex among Bangladeshi male adolescents. Among 1048 unmarried males between ages of 15 and 19 years, 12.8% reported ever having had sex. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that, in terms of the self system, having plans to study in the future were associated with a lower risk of engaging in premarital sex (odds ratio (OR) = 0.38; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.25-0.59) while knowledge of reproductive health and life skills did not have a strong influence. Strong influences of both familial and extra-familial system were observed. Respect for parents' values and beliefs about sex was associated with decreased odds of premarital sex (OR = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.26-0.59). 'Ever talked with friends about sex-related issues' was associated with threefold increased odds and an increase in peer influence score was associated with increased odds of premarital sex. These results demonstrate that premarital sex among Bangladeshi male adolescents was influenced by numerous factors, and they should be taken into account in programs aiming to delay the age of sexual debut.

Parental monitoring at age 11 and smoking initiation up to age 17 among Blacks and Whites: A prospective investigation

Parental monitoring has been identified as a predictor of adolescent smoking initiation. However, it is uncertain if the association is uniform across different racial groups. Random samples of low birth-weight and normal birth-weight children were drawn from newborn discharge lists (1983-1985) of two major hospitals in southeast Michigan, one serving an inner city and the other serving suburbs. Assessments occurred at ages 6, 11, and 17 years. Statistical analysis was conducted on children with data on parent monitoring at age 11 and tobacco use at age 17 who had never smoked a cigarette up to age 11 (n = 572). Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association between parent monitoring and children's smoking initiation. Two-way interactions were tested. The relationship between parent monitoring at age 11 and child smoking initiation from ages 11 to 17 varied by race. Among White children, an increase of 1 point on the parent monitoring scale signaled an 11% reduction in the odds of initiating smoking by age 17. In contrast, parent monitoring was not significantly associated with smoking initiation among Black children. The results suggest a differential influence of parent monitoring on adolescent smoking between White and Black children. Future research would benefit from close attention to parental goals and concerns and to extra-familial factors that shape smoking behavior across racially and socially disparate communities.

Adolescent Sexual Debut: A Multi-System Perspective of Ethnic and Racial Differences

Data from the 1997 cohort of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth were used to assess the association between family, self, proximate extra-familial, and distal extra-familial system factors and abstinence/virginity and age of first sexual intercourse by ethnicity and race (N = 1,854). Findings show how and in what circumstances measures associated with these four factors vary for Black, White, and Hispanic youth. Findings point to the robustness of class and gender for each ethnic-racial group on timing of sexual initiation and of delinquency and negative peer relations on abstinence among Black and White youth and of religious affiliation among Hispanic youth.

Risk Factors for Child and Adolescent Maltreatment

This study investigates associations between individual, family, and extrafamilial factors and the likelihood of subsequent childhood and adolescent maltreatment. The authors analyzed 1,411 participants in the Chicago Longitudinal Study whose maltreatment records were verified from administrative data. Findings suggest that maternal age at the child's birth was a robust predictor of maltreatment outcomes. Receipt of public assistance and single-parent family status were significantly associated with select outcomes. Among school-age indicators examined, parent participation in school was negatively associated with most maltreatment outcomes. Participation in the Chicago Child-Parent Center program was negatively associated with maltreatment, although effects varied by type and timing of maltreatment. In separate analyses, several factors were associated with neglect, but only maternal age at the child's birth was associated with physical abuse. Findings suggest that prevention programs may need to target select populations and specific mechanisms associated with different types of maltreatment to maximize effectiveness.

Promotive and Risk Factors Related To Deviant Behavior in Japanese Youth

Although deviant behavior is on the rise in Japanese youth, the promotive (or protective) factors that deter this behavior and the risk factors that exacerbate it have not been studied. This study examined promotive and risk factors related to deviant behavior among 555 male and female Japanese youth attending postsecondary schools in the Sapporo area. Individual characteristics, family characteristics and processes, and extrafamilial factors were investigated. Results showed that many factors that had been linked to deviant behavior in Western samples (e.g., lack of parental monitoring) were also predictive of deviant behavior in Japanese youth. In addition, some factors that were of particular concern in Japan (e.g., father's involvement in fuzuko) were also predictive of deviant behavior.

Teenage Pregnancy Among Latinas

This study investigated the role of three groups of risk and protective factors (e.g., individual, family, and extrafamilial) that are associated with teen pregnancy. Two groups of Latina adolescents (aged 15 to 19), nonpregnant/ nonparenting (NP; N = 48) and pregnant/parenting (P; N = 46), completed a demographic survey, an adolescent profile questionnaire, self-esteem, and locus of control scales. Findings revealed a group of protective factors related to each category: Significant group differences favoring the NP teens were obtained for the individual factors of higher grades and career aspirations, and family factors were related to living with biological parents and greater parental monitoring. Extrafamilial factors included variables related to greater participation in extracurricular activities and religious services, and having friends who model conventional behavior.

Psychosocial factors and treatment adherence in paediatric HIV/AIDS

A social ecological model provides a promising framework for understanding the individual, family, and societal factors contributing to non-adherence to treatment of paediatric HIV. This study explored which factors relevant to this model are associated with caregivers’ adherence and child health outcomes. A cross-sectional design was utilized to assess relationships among current individual, familial, extra-familial factors, caregiver adherence, and viral load. Data were collected from 43 caregivers, and viral load data were obtained from the medical records of their HIV+ children. Caregiver drug and alcohol use and HIV+ status were associated with non-adherence and elevated viral load. Negative outcome expectancy was associated with lower adherence but was not significant in the multivariate analyses. Family factors were not significant, but these measures had low reliability in this sample. Extra-familial factors such as dissatisfaction with medical specialty care and more stressful life events were not directly associated with adherence but were related to increased caregiver substance use. Results of this first study to explore multiple predictors of adherence and health outcomes in paediatric HIV require replication with larger samples, but findings suggest caregiver characteristics that place children at risk for disease progression due to poor adherence to treatment.

Risk behaviors and resiliency within physically abused adolescents

Objective: This study examines the relationship between physical abuse and several risk behaviors, and thriving behaviors, and the relationship between potential protective factors and engagement in risk and thriving behaviors among victims of physical abuse. Three categories of potential protective factors were examined: (1) individual characteristics, (2) family processes, and (3) extra-familial factors. We expected that high levels of protective factors would reduce engagement in risk behaviors (i.e., alcohol use, tobacco use, drug use, sexual activity, antisocial behavior, attempted suicide, and purging) among abused adolescents. Results: Across all the risk behaviors, abused adolescents reported a higher frequency of engagement than non-abused adolescents. Several protective factors were identified for the seven risk behaviors. Peer group characteristics was a significant predictor in all seven of the logistic regressions, followed by positive school climate (six models), religiosity (five models), other adult support (five models), family support (four models), view of the future (two models), and involvement in extra-curricular activities (two models). The variance accounted for by the models ranged from 2% (risk behavior of purging) to 26% (risk behavior of alcohol use and antisocial behavior). Conclusions: The findings indicate that, with the exception of sexual activity, the majority of abused adolescents were not engaging in risk behaviors; however, significantly more abused adolescents were engaging in risk behaviors than their non-abused counterparts. In addition, that protective factors were found to exist at various levels of the adolescents’ ecology has strong implications for practice.

Predictors of African American Adolescent Sexual Activity: an Ecological Framework

The present study identified predictors of African American adolescent sexual activity. An ecological model of personal, familial, and extrafamilial risk factors was proposed. Forty-eight female and 53 male African American adolescents participated. Hierarchical logistic regression and structural equation modeling found some support for the model. Risk factors were found at each level of the adolescents social ecology and explained over 80% of the variance in sexual activity. Being older, male, having low parental monitoring, using drugs, and having friends that used drugs decreased the probability of being a virgin. Virgins also expected to live 10 years longer than nonvirgins. It was suggested that fathers and community members should take a more active role in adolescents lives to curb the threat of HIV/AIDS and other STDs in the African American community.

Risk and Resiliency Factors Among Adolescents Who Experience Marital Transitions

Using a resiliency framework, we examined familial and extrafamilial factors associated with adolescent well‐being in intact, blended, and divorced single‐parent families. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted using a large sample of 7th‐, 9th‐, and 11th‐grade adolescents (N= 2,011) to test the moderating effect of peer support, school attachment, and neighbor support when parental support and monitoring were low. Significant two‐ and three‐way interactions were probed. Findings indicate that divorced and blended families have some of the same forms of resiliency as intact families. For adolescents in a divorced single‐parent family, peer support moderated the effect of low parental support on internalizing symptoms. We discuss the merits of examining divorce from a resiliency perspective.

Risk and Protective Factors in the Development of Problem Behavior During Adolescence

Based on the results of previous research, multiple factors in several domains (individual attributes of the adolescent, family attributes, and extrafamilial factors) were identified as possible risk and protective factors for development of problem behavior during adolescence. The first aim of this study was to examine the relative importance of these factors for the development of externalizing and internalizing problems. In addition to examining the role of particular risk and protective factors, we also tested the hypothesis that risk and protection have a cumulative effect. The results show that the individual attributes of the adolescent play an important role, both as a risk and as a protection, for the development of internalizing problems, but they appear to be of less importance for the development of externalizing problems. The family attributes (support, monitoring, and attachment) seem to be important for both types of problem behavior. Finally, the relationship with peers (especially the association with deviant peers) has both a risk and a protective effect for the development of problem behavior. When index of the number of risk and protective factor is used, it appears that the amount of risk has a stronger relation to variation in problem behavior than protection. Finally, in this sample, no evidence was found for the moderating effect of the protective factors.