Problem Behavior Theory Research Articles

Applying the Problem Behavior Theory to Adolescent Drug Use Among a Cross-Sectional Sample of Boys Participating in a Community-Based Youth Organization

ABSTRACTBackground: Drug use remains an important public health concern in the United States, and understanding drug use among young adolescents is vital towards improving the health of the population. Objective: This study applied the Problem Behavior Theory (PBT) to lifetime drug use among a cross-sectional sample of Boy Scouts (N = 770). The PBT provides a conceptual framework for identifying risk and protective factors for adolescent problem behaviors, including drug use. Methods: Scouts reported their drug use and socio-demographics, and were assessed on several risk and protective factors. For analyses, sociodemographic and risk and protective factors were selected according to the framework provided by PBT, and use of each drug was regressed logistically on these selected factors. Final logistic models were assessed for goodness of fit and discriminatory power. Results: The PBT demonstrated discriminatory power for all drugs (Tjur's R2 values ≥.29), but fell sharply for illicit drug use (Tjur's R2 =.20). There were no consistent correlates of drug use. Conclusions/Importance: The PBT had less explanatory power for illicit drug use compared to tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana, which suggests different risk and protective factors were associated with illicit drug use.

Driving violations and health promotion behaviors among undergraduate students: Self-report of on-road behavior

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The purposes of this study are to characterize Israeli undergraduate students' driving violations in the terms of problem behavior theory and to identify whether there is any relationship between driving violations and health risk behaviors, daring behaviors, excitement seeking, and health promotion behaviors.Methods: This study is based on a structured self-reported anonymous questionnaire distributed to undergraduate students in an academic institution. The sample included 533 undergraduate students (374 females and 159 males). The mean age was 23.4 (SD = 1.4, range = 5).Results: A higher prevalence of self-reported driving violations was found among males in comparison to females. All substance use measures were positively related to driving violations; for example, use of cigarettes (OR = 4.287, P <.001) and water pipes (odds ratio [OR] = 3.000, P <.001) as well as binge drinking (OR = 5.707, P <.001) and regular cannabis smoking (OR = 5.667, P <.001) raise the probability of committing rare driving violations. The strongest predictive factors for the frequent driving violations group were alcohol consumption–related variables: binge drinking (OR = 2.560, P <.01) and drunkenness (OR = 2.284, P <.05). Strong odd ratios were also found between the frequent driving violations group and selling or dealing drugs (12.143, P <.001), and stealing something valuable (13.680, P <.001). The strongest predicted variable for the rare driving violations group was physical confrontation due to verbal disagreement (3.439, P <.05) and the concept that selling or dealing drugs is socially acceptable (2.521, P <.05). The probability of executing rare driving violations was higher for subjects who reported intense physical workout regimens (OR = 1.638, P <.05).Conclusions: Problem behavior theory succeeded in explaining health risk behavior and driving violations. This study shows that bachelors tend to be more involved in risk behaviors, such as substance use, excitement-seeking behaviors, and daring behaviors and are active physically and thus constitute a risk group for driving violations. As such, intervention resources should be directed toward this group.

The distinction between exclusivity and comorbidity within NSSI.

Based on notions posited by problem behavior theory, the primary goal of the current study was to examine the possibility that adolescents who engage in NSSI are not a homogeneous group but are rather divided into 2 subgroups: (a) adolescents who exclusively engage in NSSI, and (b) adolescents who are involved in NSSI alongside other problem behaviors (e.g., drug abuse, unprotected sexual intercourse). Participants were a school sample of 436 adolescents from 6 high schools across Israel, who completed self-report questionnaires during school hours on engagement in NSSI and other problem behaviors, self-esteem, self-criticism, ego clarity, coping strategies, self-efficacy to regulate affect, and sociodemographic information. Findings indicated that 22% of the sample reported engaging in NSSI. Adolescents who reported engaging in NSSI had higher prevalence rates of involvement in other problem behaviors compared to those who did not report engaging in NSSI. However, a comparison between those who exclusively engaged in NSSI and those who were involved in NSSI alongside other problem behaviors indicated that lower ego clarity, lower self-esteem, and poorer self-efficacy to regulate affect, alongside higher self-criticism and greater use of disengagement coping mechanisms characterized exclusive engagement in NSSI. Distinct theoretical models are needed to characterize different forms of NSSI: NSSI, which is an exclusive and singular phenomenon, for which problems related to the self are prominent, versus NSSI, which is accompanied by other problem behaviors. Accordingly, the implications related to school psychologists' work in the assessment, treatment, and prevention of NSSI are suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record

Predictors of illicit drug use among a national sample of adolescents

ABSTRACTBackground: Rates of illicit drug use are increasing among adolescents. This study was guided by Jessor’s problem behavior theory and explored the conceptual domains of risk factors for adolescent illicit drug use. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether sex, age, race/ethnicity, authoritarian parenting, negative school experiences, ever been treated for depression, or legal involvement predicted lifetime illicit drug use, past year illicit drug use, or past month illicit drug use among adolescents nationwide. Method: The present study was a secondary data analysis of the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health including 17,399 youth from 12 to 17 years of age nationwide. Results: Among adolescents, 25.3% reported using illicit drugs in their lifetime, 18.9% reported past year use, and 10.1% reported past month use. Predictors of lifetime illicit drug use were age, race/ethnicity, ever been treated for depression, authoritarian parenting, negative school experiences, and legal involvement. Predictors of past year and past month illicit drug use were age, ever been treated for depression, authoritarian parenting, negative school experiences, and legal involvement. Conclusions: A global approach targeting all problem behavior theory systems may reduce illicit drug use among adolescents nationwide. Recommendations for future studies are included.

문제행동이론을 기반으로 한 SNS 중독과 게임 중독의 비교

인터넷 사용자 수가 급증하면서, 인터넷 기반의 애플리케이션 중 가장 많이 사용되는 SNS(Social Network Sites)이나 게임 이용은 성별과 연령대에 크게 좌우되지 않는 대중적인 성격을 띠게 되었다. 인터넷의 폭넓은 보급과 사용은 사회에 도움이 되어온 반면, 이와 함께 과도한 인터넷 사용을 통제하지 못하는 인터넷 중독과 같은 부작용 현상도 나타나고 있어 이에 따른 사회적 비용 또한 우려할 만한 수준이다. 인터넷 중독, SNS 중독 그리고 게임 중독은 중독자 개인들의 일상생활 속에서 매우 큰 위치를 차지하고 부정적인 영향을 주고 있으며, 심각한 사회 문제까지도 야기할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 중독의 원인을 설명할 수 있는 문제행동이론을 도입하여, 인터넷, SNS 그리고 게임에 대한 접촉이 상대적으로 높은 연령대인 20대 대학생들을 주 대상으로 하여 개인적 특성인 자존감과 인지적 가정환경이 인터넷 중독, SNS 중독 그리고 게임 중독에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 한다. 또한 인터넷 중독, SNS 중독 그리고 게임 중독 사이의 관계를 규명하고자 한다.

The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem: The Effects of Social Support and Subjective Well-Being on Adolescents’ Risky Behaviors

Adolescence is defined as a confusion against developing period by Erikson, the genital period by Freud, and the formal operations period by Piaget (as cited in Slavin, 2012). During this period, whilst adolescents attempt to discover themselves, they begin searching for new roles that may help them to discover their sexual, social, and professional identities. The formation of an adolescent's identity is a far more important event than identifications during previous periods (Erikson, 1993). Adolescents may spend more time alone contemplating ideas and trying to clarify their values, beliefs, and direction in life (Vernon, 2004). Additionally, different areas of developmental changes, such as psychology, cognition, and social status, can contribute to their engagement in risky behaviors (Steinberg, 2004). According to Steinberg (2007), adolescents may be impulsive and display sensation-seeking behaviors due to their inability to completely control their inhibitions and emotions, whereas others may exhibit such behavior because of a desire for autonomy from parental control (Dolcini & Adler, 1994) or peer influence and pressure (Gardner & Steinberg, 2005; Jessor, 1991).The conceptualization of risky behaviors among adolescents has incorporated many approaches. For example, the developmental approach examines adolescents' risky behaviors as behaviors that contribute to an adolescent's life, which emerge after the individual developmentally enters the period of adolescence. Risk-taking provides an adolescent the opportunity to gain characteristics that are included in the developmental tasks of adolescence, such as recognizing the self (Scott, 2004). Risk-taking meets the requirements of autonomy, gaining experience, and intimacy in the development process (Irwin & Millstein, 1990); as a developmental characteristic, egocentrism emerges among adolescents and this is a natural outcome (Erden & Akman, 2008). Through risk-taking, adolescents become aware of their role as a member of a wider community and their own maturity. In this way, it is also possible to understand risk-taking behavior by means of the friend and peer culture (Lightfoot, 1997).Adolescent problem behaviors/risky behaviors include tobacco use, alcohol abuse or other illicit drug use, risky driving (Arnett, 2000; Jessor, 1991), having unprotected sex, (Arnett, 2000; Lerner 2002), early sexual intercourse, aggression (Jessor, 1991), substance abuse (Lerner, 2002), delinquency behaviors (Arnett, 2000; Jessor, 1991; Lerner, 2002), school failure or dropping out, crime/violence (Lerner, 2002), and impulsive sensation seeking (Donohew et al., 2000). Jessor, Turbin, and Costa (1998) defined risk-taking as behaviors as functional, purposeful and mediating one's objective. In Problem-Behavior Theory, Jessor (1991) described the relationship of psychosocial protective and risk factors by the involvement in various adolescent problem behaviors. Protective factors decrease the likelihood of engaging in problematic behaviors. In other words, if an adolescent focuses on the benefit of a problematic behavior, the possibility of exhibiting that behavior, namely the risk- taking possibility of an adolescent, is high. As Romer (2003) stated, despite views that support the fact that adolescents do not think of the negative consequences of risk, adolescents do in fact recognize these consequences, but are focused more on the positive outcomes they expect to receive.Literature concerning variables related to adolescents' risky behaviors indicate that social support functions as a buffer, protecting the individual against stress sources in life. Whilst social support is effective in helping individuals cope with stressful life events (Callaghan & Morrissey, 1993; Shonkoff, 1984) and is effective in overcoming psychological problems (Lara, Leader, & Klein, 1998), poor family connections tend to lead to low self-esteem and increased levels of hopelessness and suicidal ideation in adolescence and early adulthood (McGee, Williams, & Nada-Raja, 2001). …

Socioeconomic influence on adolescent problematic Internet use through school-related psychosocial factors and pattern of Internet use

The current literature on adolescent problematic Internet use (PIU) does not provide an adequately comprehensive picture of the possible dynamics between different aspects of life in the shaping of PIU. Particularly, it is currently unknown how socioeconomic background could exert indirect influences. Adolescents from particular social strata who require assistance remain unidentified. Based on Problem Behavior Theory, a conceptual model with three layers, namely socioeconomic indicators, school-related psychosocial variables and pattern of Internet use, was formulated and tested with the survey data of 744 students from two Hong Kong secondary schools. Path analysis was conducted to yield an explanatory model of PIU. Findings suggested two different roles socioeconomic background plays. First, it potentially exerts influence as an antecedent through intermediary determinants, such as educational stress. Second, it potentially moderates the mechanism. In particular, it was found that parental education and family income significantly moderate the association between the amount of Internet use and severity of PIU. According to these findings, public health policies could be more focused on adolescents belonging to certain social strata who require additional assistance. Also, school policies and parenting strategies could be better informed with reference to the relevant psychosocial variables and pattern of Internet use.

The theoretical model of the school-based prevention programme Unplugged.

Unplugged is a school-based prevention programme designed and tested in the EU-Dap trial. The programme consists of 12 units delivered by class teachers to adolescents 12-14 years old. It is a strongly interactive programme including a training of personal and social skills with a specific focus on normative beliefs. The aim of this work is to define the theoretical model of the program, the contribution of the theories to the units, and the targeted mediators. The programme integrates several theories: Social Learning, Social Norms, Health Belief, theory of Reasoned Action-Attitude, and Problem Behaviour theory. Every theory contributes to the development of the units' contents, with specific weights. Knowledge, risk perception, attitudes towards drugs, normative beliefs, critical and creative thinking, relationship skills, communication skills, assertiveness, refusal skills, ability to manage emotions and to cope with stress, empathy, problem solving and decision making skills are the targeted mediators of the program.

Modeling problem behaviors in a nationally representative sample of adolescents

Research on multiple problem behaviors has focused on the concept of Problem Behavior Syndrome (PBS). Problem Behavior Theory (PBT) is a complex and comprehensive social-psychological framework designed to explain the development of a range of problem behaviors. This study examines the structure of PBS and the applicability of PBT in adolescents. Participants were 6062 adolescents; aged 12–19 (51.3% female) who took part in the My World Survey-Second Level (MWS-SL). Regarding PBS, Confirmatory Factor Analysis established that problem behaviors, such as alcohol and drug use loaded significantly onto a single, latent construct for males and females. Using Structural Equation Modeling, the PBT framework was found to be a good fit for males and females. Socio-demographic, perceived environment system and personality accounted for over 40% of the variance in problem behaviors for males and females. Our findings have important implications for understanding how differences in engaging in problem behaviors vary by gender.

Risky online behaviors among adolescents: Longitudinal relations among problematic Internet use, cyberbullying perpetration, and meeting strangers online.

Background and aimsThis study aims to analyze the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between three major risky online behaviors during adolescence: problematic Internet use, cyberbullying perpetration, and meeting strangers online. An additional objective was to study the role of impulsivity–irresponsibility as a possible explanatory variable of the relationships between these risky online behaviors.MethodsThe study sample was 888 adolescents that completed self-report measures at time 1 and time 2 with an interval of 6 months.ResultsThe findings showed a significant cross-sectional relationship between the risky online behaviors analyzed. At the longitudinal level, problematic Internet use at time 1 predicted an increase in the perpetration of cyberbullying and meeting strangers online at time 2. Furthermore, meeting strangers online increased the likelihood of cyberbullying perpetration at time 2. Finally, when impulsivity–irresponsibility was included in the model as an explanatory variable, the relationships previously found remained significant.DiscussionThese results extend traditional problem behavior theory during adolescence, also supporting a relationship between different risky behaviors in cyberspace. In addition, findings highlighted the role of problematic Internet use, which increased the chances of developing cyberbullying perpetration and meeting strangers online over time. However, the results suggest a limited role of impulsivity–irresponsibility as an explicative mechanism.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that various online risk activities ought to be addressed together when planning assessment, prevention and intervention efforts.

Mechanisms That Link Parenting Practices to Adolescents' Risky Sexual Behavior: A Test of Six Competing Theories.

Risky sexual behavior, particularly among adolescents, continues to be a major source of concern. In order to develop effective education and prevention programs, there is a need for research that identifies the antecedents of such behavior. This study investigated the mediators that link parenting experiences during early adolescence to subsequent risky sexual behaviors among a diverse sample of African American youth (N=629, 55% female). While there is ample evidence that parenting practices (e.g., supportive parenting, harsh parenting, parental management) are antecedent to risky sexual behavior, few studies have examined whether one approach to parenting is more strongly related to risky sex than others. Using a developmental approach, the current study focused on factors associated with six theories of risky sexual behavior. While past research has provided support for all of the theories, few studies have assessed the relative contribution of each while controlling for the processes proposed by the others. The current study addresses these gaps in the literature and reports results separately by gender. Longitudinal analyses using structural equation modeling revealed that the mediating mechanisms associated with social learning and attachment theories were significantly related to the risky sexual behavior of males and females. Additionally, there was support for social control and self-control theories only for females and for life history theory only for males. We did not find support for problem behavior theory, a perspective that dominates the risky sex literature, after controlling for the factors associated with the other theories. Finally, supportive parenting emerged as the parenting behavior most influential with regard to adolescents' risky sexual behavior. These results provide insight regarding efficacious approaches to education and preventative programs designed to reduce risky sexual behaviors among adolescents.

Sex, Parental Incarceration, and Violence Perpetration Among a Sample of Young Adults.

Limited attention has been directed at adult children with a history of parental incarceration. The goal of the current study is to expand our understanding of the gendered effects of imprisonment on the adult offspring of incarcerated parents through the exploration of violence perpetration among a sample of young adults. Congruent with problem behavior theory, it is hypothesized that young adults who have been affected by parental incarceration will report greater aversive outcomes (i.e., more risk factors and violence perpetration) than their peers without a history of parental incarceration. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that parental incarceration predicts violent perpetration even after controlling for individual and familial risk factors and demographic characteristics. A series of bivariate and multivariate statistical models utilizing self-report data from 534 college students were generated to test said hypotheses. In addition, the moderating effects of students' sex and exposure to parental incarceration on the relationship between violence perpetration and risk factors were explored through the utilization of split logistic regression models. Roughly 1 in 10 (13.3%) students surveyed had experienced parental incarceration. As expected, students affected by parental incarceration were significantly more likely to perpetrate violence than their peers not affected by parental incarceration, net individual and familial risk. Although only a small percentage of students had experienced the imprisonment of a parent, parental incarceration predicted violence perpetration in young adulthood. These findings highlight the need to explore the long-lasting effects of parental incarceration on prisoners' offspring across the life course.

Early Sexual Debut and Associated Factors among In-school Adolescents in Six Caribbean Countries.

This report examines early sexual debut (< age 15 years) among 15-year old in-school adolescents in six Caribbean countries. The total sample included 9948 school children aged primarily 13-16 years from nationally representative samples from six Caribbean countries. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between early sexual debut and substance use, unintentional injuries and violence, mental distress, physical activity, protective factors and socio-economic status variables. Approximately one-fourth of the sample (26.9%) had experienced sexual debut before age 15 years, 37.2% among boys and 16.9% among girls. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, it was found that male gender, substance use (smoking and alcohol use), having been in a physical fight in the past 12 months, sedentary behaviour, truancy and lack of parental or guardian attachment were associated with early sexual debut. This study found a high prevalence of early sexual debut. The risk factors identified were consistent with the Problem Behaviour Theory, which can be incorporated into broader sexual health promotion programmes.

Software Piracy among Korean Adolescents: Lessons from Panel Data

The purpose of this study was to examine the determinants of adolescents’ software piracy over time and discover gender differences based on Self-Control and Problem Behavior theories. Using the Korean Youth Panel Survey data, both random and fixed effects models were estimated although this study focused on within effects. Findings showed that increases in problematic off-line behavior, psychological health problems, and time spent on computers, as well as decrease in self-control, increased the likelihood of computer piracy among Korean adolescents. Additional analyses identified gender differences. Implications for policy and future research as well as limitations are discussed.

A Predictive Model for Physical Activity, Healthy Eating, Alcohol Drinking, and Risky Driving Among Albanian Youth

Studies report an increasing prevalence of health risk behaviors among Albanian adolescents and young adults. The Problem-Behavior Theory provides a useful framework for explaining both health-compromising and health-enhancing behaviors by considering several personal and environmental factors. The present study used a model with seven independent variables including age, gender, attitudes, locus of control, risk behavior tendency, stress, and parent/peer models of health behavior to predict two health-compromising behaviors (alcohol drinking and risky driving) and two health-enhancing behaviors (physical activity, healthy eating) in a sample of 347 Albanian young adults (157 men and 190 women, Mage= 20.42, SD = 1.48). The measuring instrument was based on the Health Behavior Questionnaire developed by Jessor, Donovan, and Costa. Results showed that the model explained 26.1% of the variance in risky driving behavior, and the significant predictors included, risk behavior tendency, gender, and attitude toward health. These same three variables also significantly predicted drinking behavior, explaining 16.8% of the variance. Also the model explained 14.2% of the variance in healthy eating behavior and the significant predictors included, models of significant others, gender, locus of control, attitude toward health, and age. Finally, the only two significant predictors for physical activity were risky behavior tendency and perceived stress, which accounted for 13.2% of the variance. Findings are discussed in the context of suggestions for future research and practical implications for policy making.

Personality, perceived environment, and behavior systems related to future smoking intentions among youths: an application of problem-behavior theory in Shanghai, China.

BackgroundSmoking among youths is a worldwide problem, particularly in China. Many endogenous and environmental factors influence smokers’ intentions to smoke; therefore, a comprehensive model is needed to understand the significance and relationship of predictors. This study aimed to develop a prediction model based on problem-behavior theory (PBT) to interpret intentions to smoke among Chinese youths.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of 26,675 adolescents from junior, senior, and vocational high schools in Shanghai, China. Data on smoking status, smoking knowledge, attitude toward smoking, parents’ and peers’ smoking, and media exposure to smoking were collected from students. A structural equation model was used to assess the developed prediction model.ResultsThe experimental smoking rate and current smoking rate among the students were 11.0% and 3%, respectively. Our constructed model showed an acceptable fit to the data (comparative fit index = 0.987, root-mean-square error of approximation = 0.034). Intention to smoke was predicted by perceived environment (β = 0.455, P < 0.001) system consisting of peer smoking (β = 0.599, P < 0.001), parent smoking (β = 0.152, P < 0.001), and media exposure to smoking (β = 0.226, P < 0.001), and behavior system (β = 0.487, P < 0.001) consisting of tobacco experimentation (β = 0.663, P < 0.001) and current smoking (β = 0.755, P < 0.001). Smoking intention was irrelevant for personality system in students (β = -0.113, P>0.05) which consisted of acceptance of tobacco use (β = 0.668, P < 0.001) and academic performance (β = 0.171, P < 0.001).ConclusionThe PBT-based model we developed provides a good understanding of the predictors of intentions to smoke and it suggests future interventions among youths should focus on components in perceived environment and behavior systems, and take into account the moderating effects of personality system.

Stress Moderates the Relationship Between Problematic Internet Use by Parents and Problematic Internet Use by Adolescents

PurposeBased on the theoretical framework of Problem Behavior and Stress Reduction theories for problematic Internet use (PIU), this study aimed to investigate the relationship between parental PIU and the PIU among adolescents taking into consideration the stress levels of young people. MethodsThis was a population-based parent and adolescent dyad health survey utilizing a random sampling technique. PIU for both parents and adolescents was measured by the Internet addiction test designed by Young. The stress level of adolescents was assessed using the stress subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS). Data were analyzed using logistic regression modeling techniques with adjustment for potential confounding factors with analysis on the modification effect of stress levels on the relationship between parent and adolescent PIU. ResultsOf the total 1,098 parent and adolescent dyads with usable information, 263 adolescents (24.0%) and 62 parents (5.7%) could be classified as moderate and severe problematic users of the Internet. About 14% (n = 157) of adolescents could be classified with moderate-to-severe stress. Regression analysis results suggested a significant interaction between parental PIU and adolescents' stress levels on adolescent PIU. Stratified regression analyses by stress level resulted in a significant parent and adolescent PIU relationship in the low stress group (odds ratio, 3.18; 95% confidence interval 1.65–6.14). However, the association between parent and adolescent PIU in the high stress group became insignificant. ConclusionsThere was a significant parent and adolescent PIU relationship; however, this relationship is differentially affected by the stress status of the adolescent. The direct implication of the results is that parental Internet use should also be assessed and included as part of the treatment regime for adolescents.

Risk and protective factors for problem behaviors among youth in residential care

In accordance with problem behavior theory (PBT), the study examined the contribution of risk and protective factors among high-risk adolescents living in residential care settings (RCSs) to their delinquency, substance abuse, and risky sexual behavior, as well as the inter-correlations between these problem behaviors. The specific study variables were chosen to represent the personal and environmental factors operating on the adolescent. It was hypothesized that higher levels of problem behaviors would be associated with higher levels of sensation-seeking and deviant peer associations (risk factors), and lower levels of future orientation and parental support (protective factors).One hundred and forty seven adolescents (M=16.03) from seven residential facilities for children with severe emotional and behavioral problems in Israel responded to structured self-report questionnaires.The powerful associations found between the abovementioned risk behaviors suggested a problem behavior syndrome among this group. The risk factors of sensation-seeking and deviant peer associations made the largest contribution to the prediction of problem behaviors beyond any background or protective factors examined. Of the protective factors, only future orientation was found to be significantly associated with problem behaviors: i.e., a more positive future orientation correlated with lower engagement in problem behaviors, an association that increased in strength with age.The apparent existence of a single behavioral syndrome among youth in RCSs and the central contribution to the syndrome of risk factors – in particular, deviant peer associations – points to the need for holistic group interventions addressing multiple risk factors.

Peers' influence and African-American youth in public housing

Drawing from problem behavior theory (PBT), this study investigates whether the relationship between exposure to delinquent peers and delinquent behavior is moderated by peer influences as well as by generalized self-efficacy and an adolescent's attitudes toward deviance. We also explore how gender may influence these relationships. A sample of 401 African-American adolescents living in public housing developments in two large US cities was recruited for this investigation. The preliminary analyses included t-test and bivariate correlations, while our primary analysis included hierarchical regression analysis. The regression analysis included two-way and three-way interaction terms to assess the moderating effects of peer influences, generalized self-efficacy, and attitudes toward deviance as well as gender, respectively. Results indicate that the effects of exposure to delinquent peers depend on peers' influence over adolescents and other factors. Findings provide partial support for PBT and suggest that...

Problem Behaviors among Israeli Undergraduate Students: Applying Jessor's Problem Behavior Theory among Young Adult Students.

Purpose: The current study tested the applicability of Jessor’s problem behavior theory (PBT) in Ariel University.Methods: A structured, self-reported, anonymous questionnaire was administered to undergraduate students. The final study sample included 1,360 participants (882 females and 478 males, mean age 25, SD = 2.9, range = 17).Results: Findings indicated that the PBT was replicated in this sample. As shown from the hierarchal linear regression model, religiosity and high-academic achievements were found to be strong and significant protective factors that reduce risk behaviors. Among young and religious students, the personal vulnerability has almost no impact on involvement in risk behaviors.Conclusion: The PBT finds empirical support in this young adult undergraduate Israeli sample.