Adolescent Problem Behavior in China and the United States: A Cross‐National Study of Psychosocial Protective Factors

Abstract

An explanatory model of adolescent problem behavior (problem drinking, cigarette smoking, and general delinquency) based on protective and risk factors in the individual and in 4 social contexts (family, peer group, school, and neighborhood) is employed in school‐based samples from the People's Republic of China (N=1,739) and the United States (N=1,596). Despite lower prevalence of the problem behaviors in the Chinese sample, especially for girls, a substantial account of problem behavior is provided by the same protective and risk factors in both countries and for both genders. Protection is generally higher in the Chinese sample than in the U.S. sample, but in both samples protection also moderates the impact of risk. Despite mean differences in psychosocial protective and risk factors, as well as in problem behavior, in the 2 samples—differences that may reflect societal variation—the explanatory model has, to a large extent, cross‐national generality.

A diathesis-stress model of engagement in risky behaviors in Chinese adolescents

“…As this type of sociocultural environment fosters the development of an interdependent sense of self, members from collectivistic cultures have been found to use social support-seeking behaviors as a primary means of coping (Yeh & Inose, 2002;Yeh & Wang, 2000). As China has undergone rapid social change in recent years, however, the role of the extended family has begun to be downplayed (Jessor et al, 2003), and younger generations have begun to embrace more individualistic values (Wang, 2006). Consequently, Chinese adolescents have likely begun to utilize more individualistic coping strategies, making models of coping developed within the Western cultural context increasingly relevant to the Chinese cultural context.…”

“…To date, the vast majority of research examining adolescent engagement in risky behaviors in mainland China has been cross-sectional in nature (e.g., Chen, Greenberger, Lester, Dong, & Guo, 1998;Jessor et al, 2003). Of the prospective studies that have been conducted, many have examined engagement in specific behaviors such as smoking (e.g., Hesketh et al, 2001), alcohol consumption (e.g., Li, Fang, Stanton, Feigelman, & Dong, 1996), and drug use (e.g., Zhimin et al, 2001) rather than engagement in risky behaviors in general.…”

“…China is a country that dramatically differs from Western countries in its approach to social, political, and economic policies (Jessor et al, 2003), and at present it is in the midst of rapid modernization and social change (Wong & Mok, 1995). One widespread consequence has been the emergence of a youth culture that is rejecting long-standing traditions and authoritative cultural values while at the same time emphasizing ARTICLE IN PRESS www.elsevier.com/locate/brat 0005-7967/$ -see front matter r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.…”

“…Studies examining the frequency of engagement in risky behaviors among Chinese youth have shown marked increases in delinquent-type behavior (Greenberg et al, 2000), cigarette smoking (Hesketh, Ding, & Tomkins, 2001), excessive alcohol use (Johnston, O'Malley, & Bachman, 2001), and marijuana use (Johnston et al, 2001;Zhimin et al, 2001). In light of these findings, researchers have placed increased emphasis on examining potential vulnerability and protective factors that may affect adolescents' reported engagement in risky behaviors (Jessor et al, 2003).…”

A developmental study of heavy episodic drinking among college students: the role of psychosocial and behavioral protective and risk factors.

“…In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the role of protective factors and risk factors in influencing adolescents' involvement in problem behaviors (e.g., problem drinking and the use of illicit drugs) (Jessor, 1991(Jessor, , 1998. This protection/risk model, derived from Problem-Behavior Theory Jessor and Jessor, 1977), has been used to explain problem drinking, including heavy episodic drinking, in samples of middle school and high school students (Costa et al, 1999;Jessor et al, 2003).Protective factors decrease the likelihood of engaging in such problem behaviors as heavy episodic drinking. Psychosocial protective factors provide social models for positive or prosocial behavior (e.g., peer models for conventional behaviors such as volunteer work, parent models for healthenhancing behaviors such as regular exercise); social and personal controls against norm-violative behavior (e.g., parental sanctions for transgression, attitudinal intolerance of deviance); and an environment of social support (e.g., family closeness).…”