Exploring Risk in Early Adolescent African American Youth

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to explore the degree to which single- and multiple-risk profiles were evident in samples of African American early adolescents in low-income inner-city, rural, and suburban schools. Study 1 examined early adolescent risk status (i.e., single, multiple) in relation to later adjustment in a representative sample (70% European American, 30% African American). Youth who experienced a single risk in early adolescence had moderately increased levels of school dropout and criminal arrests, whereas youth with multiple risks (i.e., combination of 2 or more risks) had significantly increased levels of school dropout, criminal arrests, and teen parenthood. Study 2 examined the extent to which single- and multiple-risk profiles were evident in cross-sectional samples of African American youth from low-income inner-city and rural areas. About one fourth of both the inner-city and rural samples of African American youth were composed of youth in the single-risk category. A significantly greater proportion of boys in the inner-city sample (20%) than boys in the rural sample (13%) experienced multiple risks. Girls across the rural and inner-city samples did not differ in terms of risk. Overall, more than 60% of African American youth in these two low-income samples did not evidence risk for later adjustment problems. Implications for research and intervention are discussed.

An Evaluation of Hope Following a Summer Camp for Inner-City Youth

“…Risks for inner-city youth typically occur at multiple levels (Farmer et al 2004) and thus, prevention programs designed to address multiple risk-behaviors and involve the community are generally more effective than programs that address a single risk behavior and lack community involvement (Durlak 1998;Flay et al 2004). Guidelines for the development of successful prevention programs highlight the importance of integrating culture, promoting cultural pride, and developing a sense of self for ethnic minority youth (Hilliard 1989;Kaufmann and Dodge 1997;Knight et al 2009;Willis 2002).…”

Significant Race Differences in Factors Related to the Detention Recidivism of Youthful Offenders

“…This theory posits that racial discrimination occurs indirectly through other social characteristics-including family structure, socioeconomic status, youth personality traits, school status and difficulties, and other related char acteristics (Cohen & Kluegel, 1978;Farmer et al, 2004;Pope & Feyerherm, 1990;Rodriquez, 2010). It is thought that race is related to juvenile court outcomes through these characteristics because race is significantly related to these important characteristics that in turn affect juvenile court outcomes (Bortner, Sunderland, & Winn, 1985;Horwitz & Wasserman, 1980;Meade, 1973).…”

Gender Differences in Behavioral Outcomes Among Children at Risk of Neglect: Findings From a Family-Focused Prevention Intervention

“…Living in a poor and urban environment with its associated stressors (e.g., exposure to violence and/or drugs) can increase problem behaviors among youth. Urban African American youth represent a particularly high-risk group given that they are often concentrated in poor, violent neighborhoods and in low-income householdssocioeconomic factors that have been linked to mental health and other psychosocial problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, and aggression) among this group (Farmer et al, 2004;U.S. Department of Health andHuman Services [USDHHS], 2001a, 2001b;Yung & Hammond, 1998).…”