Urban African American Adolescents Research Articles

Subtypes of Bullying and Friends’ Delinquency: Is Religiosity a Moderator?

Increasingly, bullying research has focused on identifying protective factors associated with bullying involvement (e.g., victim, perpetrator) and adverse outcomes. In this study, religiosity was examined as a protective factor in the relationship between bullying involvement and friends’ delinquency among a large sample of low-income urban African American adolescents ( N = 753). Analysis of the cross-sectional data indicated that bullying perpetration, victimization, and victimization/perpetration were positively associated with greater friends’ delinquency. Further, adolescents who bullied others were less likely to report having friends engaging in delinquency when they reported attending church or other religious services. Also, adolescents who reported both victimization and perpetration of bullying, who placed great importance on religious or spiritual beliefs, were less likely to associate with friends engaging in delinquency. This study demonstrates how religiosity should be considered in bullying prevention and intervention efforts.

Pathways From Bullying Victimization to Suicidal Thoughts Among Urban African American Adolescents: Applying the General Strain Theory.

The present study explores the relationship between bullying victimization and suicidal thoughts among African American adolescents in urban neighborhoods. The study, which was guided by the general strain theory, proposed and tested potential pathways that link bullying victimization with suicidal thoughts through the mediators including emotional distress, low future orientation, hopelessness, and drug use. The study sample included 414 African American adolescents who were between ages 12 and 22 years and residing in low-income Chicago's South Side neighborhoods. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation, and path analyses were conducted. Bullying victimization was not significantly related to suicidal thoughts, although it was positively associated with emotional distress and drug use. The association between low future orientation and hopelessness was bidirectional. The study findings have implications for practice, which is important as resources to assist adolescents who are affected by violence tend to be limited.

Disclosure of Exposure to Violence in Urban Adolescents.

Research has documented high rates of exposure to violence in urban African American adolescents together with their negative effects on psychosocial adjustment. Coping with violence exposure may be facilitated by disclosure of these experiences to others, but little is known about the extent to which youth disclose their various experiences with violence. This study examined the prevalence of disclosure of violence experienced as a witness or victim in different contexts or locations to parents, friends, siblings, teachers, counselors, and relatives. Urban African American adolescents from Southeastern U.S. were interviewed at three time points (N = 81; average ages 13.3, 16.1, and 17.8). Across the three time points, 90% to 91% witnessed violence and 64% to 81% were victimized in the last year. Of these youth, 40% to 53% disclosed experiences of witnessing violence and 29% to 52% disclosed experiences of victimization. The results showed that disclosure of violence most often involved parents and friends, with fewer youth disclosing to teachers and counselors. Disclosure of violence victimization increased from early to late adolescence. Experiences of dating violence victimization were less likely to be disclosed by adolescents, especially among males. These findings support the need for more research on adolescents' disclosure of violence exposure and its links to adjustment, with implications for interventions aimed at improving coping in youth exposed to violence.

Religiosity and Associations with Substance Use and Delinquency Among Urban African American Adolescents.

Adolescent delinquency and substance use are global problems. African American adolescents are especially susceptible to the life-changing consequences of these problem behaviors. Religiosity is a notable protective factor that has been shown to mitigate these behaviors. This study uses a person-centered approach to examine the extent to which religiosity is associated with lower rates of delinquency and substance use among urban African American adolescents in the United States. Latent Class Analysis was used to examine the heterogeneity in five religiosity items among a sample of adolescents ages 13-18. After identifying religiosity classes through a class enumeration process, we examined predictors of the classes using multinomial logistic regression. The classes were then used to predict several substance use and delinquency outcomes. Three religiosity classes were identified; "low religious beliefs and engagement," (15.19%, n = 94), "religious with low active engagement," (56.70%, n = 351), and "religious with high active engagement," (28.11%, n = 174). Protective effects of religiosity on substance use (e.g., alcohol) and delinquency were found (e.g., assault). Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Individual, familial, and sociocontextual correlates of maternal caregiving among African American adolescents in public housing

AbstractObjectiveAfrican American adolescents (N = 372), recruited from public housing in three large U.S. cities, participated in this study that explores individual, familial, and sociocontextual correlates of maternal caregiving profiles, based on supervision and encouragement.BackgroundMaternal caregivers play an important role in ensuring the safety and welfare of adolescents as they encounter multiple challenges in their social environment. Public housing magnifies the risk of experiencing such challenges for African American adolescents. Evidence on the experiences of African American adolescents living in public housing is scarce. Our study contributes to this body of knowledge by exploring profiles of maternal caregivers, based on supervision and encouragement, their association with demographics, and familial and sociocontextual challenges among adolescents in public housing.MethodUsing multinomial logistic regression, we explore the associations between profiles of maternal caregiving, based on supervision and encouragement and adolescent characteristics, adolescents' experiences, and assessment of their family (e.g., quality of parent–child relationship, family conflict) and sociocontextual (e.g., peer influence, victimization, witnessing of community violence).ResultsAdolescents living in households with high levels of maternal encouragement and supervision reported a high‐quality relationship with their caregivers and less witnessing of community violence. These adolescents were also less likely to report victimization.ConclusionsThe study identified parenting strategies that could potentially reduce risks of adverse exposures among urban African American youth in public housing. Practitioners and policymakers must consider programs to bolster these strategies and further serve urban African American adolescents in challenging environments.

Future Orientation as a Moderator of Bullying Victimization and School Outcomes: Comparing Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Urban African American Adolescents

Bullying victimization remains to be a public health concern in the United States, especially among sexual and ethnic minority youth. However, few studies have examined how school outcomes might be associated with bullying victimization among heterosexual and sexual minority African American youth and the factors that may attenuate that relationship. To address this gap, this study surveyed 462 heterosexual and 102 sexual minority African American youth residing in Chicago’s Southside neighborhoods, who participated in the Resiliency Project. Study variables included bullying victimization, school outcomes (i.e., school connectedness, and academic grades), and future orientation. Bullying victimization was associated with a significant increase in feeling disconnected from school among both heterosexual and sexual minority adolescents; however, there was no significant association observed between bullying victimization and receiving low grades among either group. Future orientation did not moderate the association between bullying victimization and school outcomes among heterosexual adolescents; however, positive future orientation did attenuate the association between bullying victimization and feeling disconnected from school among sexual minority adolescents. Prevention programs that focus on promoting school connectedness need to consider the role of future orientation for sexual minority youth.

Subtypes of Bullying and Types of Substance Use among Urban African American Adolescents: Who Is Likely to Use What?

ABSTRACT The present study examined the types of drugs likely to be used by bullies, victims, and bully/victims. Participants comprise African American adolescents from three high schools, one youth church group, two community youth programs, and four public venues in low-income communities in Chicago’s Southside. A series of logistic regression analyses and latent class analyses were employed. Victims are likely to use alcohol, marijuana, and lean/krokodil. Bullies were likely to use alcohol and marijuana. Bully/victims were not at risk of any of the substances. Our LCA findings revealed a lower occurrence of substance use among victims although 30% used alcohol and marijuana; more than half of bullies showed high levels of alcohol, marijuana, and lean/krokodil use; a diverse pattern of drug use was shown among bully/victims although their lean/krokodil and crack/cocaine use was higher than other subgroups of bullying. The drugs of choice for African American bullies, victims, or bully/victims are variable.

Ecological correlates of bullying and peer victimization among urban African American adolescents

Adolescent bullying is a concern for adolescents, parents, teachers, school officials, and the general public. The purpose of the study is to apply Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems perspective and explore factors that are correlated with bullying perpetration and victimization among 638 urban African American adolescents in Chicago's Southside. Bullying victimization and perpetration are found to be influenced by microsystem-level factors, such as exposure to delinquent peers, teacher support, and neighborhood disorganization. An intervention strategy that involves teachers is particularly important. Anti-bullying intervention and prevention programs in urban schools need to account for the unique situations of urban African American adolescents.

Pathways from bullying victimization to suicidal thoughts among urban African American adolescents: Implications for nurse practitioners.

Children and adolescents who are victimized by their peers are at an elevated risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Bullying and suicide are major public health concerns; however, studies have not fully addressed the link between peer victimization and suicidal behavior among urban African American youth. The current study proposed and explored the pathways from peer victimization to suicidal thoughts via internalizing behaviors (i.e., low self-esteem, depression, and hopelessness). The sample consisted of 638 African American adolescents (aged 12-22) from low-income communities in Chicago's Southside. A path model using the structural equation model was employed, controlling for biological sex, age, and government assistance. The study found that victims of bullying are likely to develop low self-esteem and depression, and depression can contribute to feelings of hopelessness, thereby increasing suicidal risks. Understanding the pathways from bullying victimization to suicidal thoughts is beneficial for nurse practitioners who assess and provide services and treatment to adolescents. Because of limited resources in urban schools, anti-bullying programs need to be cost-effective.

What Types of Delinquent Activities are Bullies, Victims, and Bully/Victims in Urban Neighborhoods Most Likely Involved in?

PurposeThe current study explores which types of delinquent activities bullies, victims, and bully/victims are most at risk of from a sample of urban African American adolescents. Design and methodsThe research design was cross-sectional, which includes a sample of low-income African American adolescents in Chicago's Southside. The study participants included 523 adolescents. Descriptive statistics, latent class analysis, and logistic regression analysis were conducted. ResultsBullies, victims, and bully/victims are all at a heightened risk of theft, threatening behavior, and assaultive behavior. Irrespective of bullying status, delinquency is a serious problem for urban adolescents who are bullies, victims, or bully/victims. ConclusionsInvestigating the types of delinquent activities bullies, victims, and bully/victims are most likely to be involved in is important. Implications for practiceEvidence-based treatment plans require assessment tools that are tailored for urban African American adolescents. Nurses are advised to consider interventions that promote resilience.

Food Insecurity, Meal Behaviors, Beverage Intake, and Body Mass Index in Underserved Adolescents.

Associations between food insecurity, meal patterns, beverage intake, and body mass index (BMI) were investigated using data from the Howard Meharry Adolescent Caries Study. Secondary analyses of food security status used the Wilcoxon rank sum, chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests. The group of adolescents (n=627) was 42.1% male, 14.2±1.9 years, 86.9% African American, and 19.9% food-insecure. Meal frequency, meal structure, most beverage intake, and BMI did not differ by food-security status. Adolescents from Washington, DC were more likely to be food insecure than adolescents from Nashville, TN (P=0.003). Most had unstructured meal patterns and irregular breakfast intake. Median milk intake was below and sugar-sweetened beverage intake above dietary recommendations. This study extends our knowledge concerning food insecurity in urban African American adolescents and suggests public health initiatives designed to encourage meal structure, increase milk intake, and reduce sugar-sweetened beverage intake can improve diet quality of underserved youth.

Adult Family Adversities and Bullying among Urban African American Adolescents

ABSTRACT The current study examined how adverse family events (i.e., adult family incarceration, adult family substance use, and adult family mental illness) were associated with adolescent bullying perpetration. More specifically, this study examined whether levels of future orientation mediated the link between adult family incarceration, substance use, and mental illness and bullying perpetration. A sample of 637 African American adolescents from the Southside of Chicago was used for this study. Adult family incarceration, substance use, and mental illness were all found to be positively associated with bullying perpetration. Also, adult family substance use and mental illness were positively associated with low levels of future orientation, which was significantly related to bullying perpetration. These findings demonstrate the importance of understanding how adverse family events are related to adolescent bullying. Implications for future research are discussed.

Mindfulness and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Severity in Urban African-American High School Students.

The aim of the current study was to examine the relations among mindfulness, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity, and stressful life events (SLEs) in African-American urban adolescents. Another aim was to examine mindfulness as a moderator of the relation between SLEs and PTSD symptom severity in this population. Eighty-eight African-American high school students from a low-income urban community completed measures of demographics, PTSD symptom severity, SLEs, and mindfulness. Mindfulness was significantly negatively related to PTSD symptom severity, r(86) = -.70, p < .001, 95% CI [-.58, -79], and SLEs were significantly positively related to PTSD symptom severity, r(86) = .29, p = .003, 95% CI [.09, .47]. Mindfulness was an independent predictor of PTSD symptom severity after accounting for SLEs, B = -1.16, t(84) = -9.06, p < .001, 95% CI [-1.41, -0.90], and SLEs were an independent predictor of PTSD symptom severity after accounting for mindfulness, B = 0.49, t(84) = 2.92, p = .004, 95% CI [0.16, 0.82]. Mindfulness did not moderate the relation between SLEs and PTSD symptom severity, B = -.003, t(84) = -0.15, p = .89, 95% CI [-.04, .03]. This study has implications for both mindfulness as a potential protective factor against PTSD symptom severity and SLEs as a potential risk factor for increased PTSD symptom severity in African-American urban adolescents.

Future Orientation and Adverse Outcomes of Peer Victimization among African American Adolescents

ABSTRACT The present study examines whether positive future orientation might buffer the association between peer victimization and adverse outcomes from a sample of urban African American adolescents. More specifically, it was hypothesized that peer victimization would be significantly associated with internalizing problems, a decline in school grade, substance use, peer aggression, and suicidal thoughts. It was also hypothesized that positive future orientation would moderate the link between peer victimization and these outcomes. Cross-sectional research was conducted in Chicago’s Southside, and the study comprised a sample of 638 African American adolescents, ages 13 to 24. Analyses for the study consisted of descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation, and ordinary least squares regression. Peer victimization was found to be directly associated with internalizing problems, peer aggression, and suicidal thoughts. Positive future orientation was also found to buffer the association between peer victimization and peer aggression and suicidal thoughts. It is important for researchers to identify protective psychological resources in the various high-risk neighborhood that can buffer the association between victimization and psychosocial problems. It is also imperative that victims of bullying are involved in programs that foster positive development and reduces the likelihood of psychosocial problems and problematic behaviors.

Enhancing Adolescent and Young Adult Health Services! A Review of the Community Needs Assessment Process in an Urban Federally Qualified Health Center.

Background: Urban African American adolescents and young adults (AYAs) face multiple barriers to effective engagement in health care, including access to primary and specialty care services resulting in significant disparities in care.Purpose: To conduct a needs assessment to enhance service delivery of AYAs at an urban federally qualified health center (FQHC) organization in Detroit.Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted among pediatric staff members (N=11) using the community needs assessment approach specified for FQHCs.Results: The needs assessment determined the following priorities for AYAs seeking care at this FQHC organization: (1) mental health (e.g., depression and anxiety), (2) obesity, and (3) sexual health (e.g., sexually transmitted infection testing).Conclusion: When analyzing a population to learn about community-based issues, a needs assessment is a valuable tool. The information here has been used as supplemental information to address the health inequities that African American youth face within Detroit.

Peer Victimization, Internalizing Problems, and Substance Use in Urban African American Adolescents in Chicago: The Relevance of the Self-Medication Hypothesis.

The aim of the study was to explore the link between peer victimization and substance use and tested the mediating role of internalizing problems in urban African American adolescents in Chicago. Six hundred and thirty-eight adolescents in Chicago's Southside participated in the study. Results from the hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that youth who reported peer victimization were at risk of internalizing problems. Those who were bullied by their peers were more likely to display internalizing problems, which was also significantly associated with substance use. Consistent with the self-medication hypothesis, findings from the study suggest that bullied youth are likely to display internalizing problems and turn to substance use. Implications for mental health practice in school settings are also discussed.

An Exploration of the Ecological Context of Low-Income, Urban African-American Adolescent Sexual Risk.

Prior health disparities research has indicated that urban, low-income African-American families and adolescents experience ecological and environmental hardships that result in higher rates of engagement in risk behaviors. Contextual factors like community violence, socioeconomic status, and family processes, as well as limited sexual health knowledge, a psychological element, also contribute to high rates of sexual risk among urban African-American adolescents. However, protective factors like parental monitoring and parent-adolescent communication about sex may decrease sexual risk among this urban teen population. Therefore, the current study sought to explore the following research questions: (1) Is parent-adolescent communication about sex associated with adolescent sexual health knowledge?, (2) Is parent-adolescent communication about sex associated with parental monitoring?, (3) Are parental monitoring and parent-adolescent communication about sex predictors of adolescent sexual risk?, (4) Are there gender differences in parent-adolescent communication about sex and parental monitoring?, and (5) Are age and gender predictors of adolescent sexual risk? A sample of approximately 1102 African-American adolescents aged 13-17 from urban Midwestern high schools were included in this study. There was no significant association found between sexual health knowledge and parent communication about sex or parental monitoring. Female adolescents reported higher levels of communication about sex than males. Findings indicated a significant negative association between parental monitoring and adolescent sexual risk, with the association being stronger for males than females. There was a significant negative association found between sexual health knowledge and adolescent sexual risk. Additionally, findings indicated a significant negative association between parental monitoring and adolescent sexual risk.

Maternal and Family Correlates of Intrinsic Religiosity Profiles Among Low-Income Urban African American Adolescents.

National trends show that African American adolescents, relative to most other demographic groups, are more religious, and show fewer declines in religiosity, despite drastic decreases in religiosity among youth over the past 25 years. These broad findings are limiting because they fail to acknowledge religious heterogeneity among African American teens. Further, there are few empirical investigations of the transmission of religiosity within African American families. Building on a recent study that identified three distinctive profiles of intrinsic religiosity in a sample of low-income African American adolescents who were followed over four years (N = 326; Youth Mage = 12.1, SD = 1.6 years; 54% female), the present study examined contributions of maternal religiosity and family emotional climate in distinguishing these profiles. Univariate analyses revealed that maternal religious attendance and commitment, adolescents' felt acceptance from mothers and the emotional climate in the home differentiated youth who retained high levels of intrinsic religiosity (41%) from youth who declined in religiosity (37%) or who had low levels of religiosity (22%). Multivariate analyses showed that after accounting for demographic covariates, felt acceptance from mothers differentiated adolescents with high versus low levels of religiosity; both maternal religious attendance and felt acceptance from mothers distinguished adolescents who retained high levels of religiosity from youth who declined in religiosity. Implications for family dynamics in African American adolescent religious development and well-being are discussed.

Family Incarceration and Bullying Among Urban African American Adolescents: The Mediating Roles of Exposure to Delinquent Peer Norms, Trauma, and Externalizing Behaviors

The present study examined whether having had an incarcerated adult family member was associated with youth bullying perpetration. The study also examined whether exposure to delinquent peers’ norms, trauma, and externalizing behaviors mediated the link between adult family member’s incarceration and bullying perpetration. The study sample consisted of 638 African American adolescents, aged 13 to 21, in Chicago’s Southside. Major findings indicated that 46.8% of the study participants reported bullying perpetration (i.e., at least 1 to 2 times in the past 30 days). Moreover, an adult family member’s incarceration history was found to be positively associated with having peers who endorsed delinquent norms, trauma, and externalizing behaviors, which were linked to youth’s bullying perpetration. Programs addressing youth bullying need to consider the family dynamics.

Community Violence Exposure, Sleep Disruption, and Insulin Resistance in Low-Income Urban Adolescents.

Exposure to violence, which is experienced at disproportionally higher levels by black versus white youth, is associated with disruptions in sleep and elevated cardiovascular risk. Further, poor sleep hygiene is associated with insulin resistance. However, research to date examining disruptions in sleep and cardiovascular risk in African-American adolescents has not taken the impact of exposure to violence into account, nor considered how gender might affect patterns of association. The present study addressed this gap by testing a path model linking exposure to community violence, sleep disruption, and insulin resistance in a sample of African-American adolescents and evaluating model fit across gender. African-American adolescents (N = 107; 56% female; Mage = 14.29, SD = 1.17) completed structured interviews at home and provided a blood sample after fasting overnight. The model fit connecting exposure to violence with sleep disruption and insulin resistance, adjusting for depressive symptoms and body mass index z score, was excellent. Multiple group analysis indicated gender differences in model fit. Path analysis revealed significant positive associations between exposure to violence and sleep disruption and sleep disruption and insulin resistance for females but not males. These data indicate that low-income, urban African-American female adolescents who witness violence and experience sleep disruptions may already be at elevated risk for health problems compared with their male counterparts. Additional research should attempt to replicate and explicate the underlying reasons for the gender differences observed here, with the goal of improving health and disrupting the path leading to health disparities.