Rural and Non-Rural African American Youth: Does Context Matter in the Etiology of Problem Behaviors?

Associations of Neighborhood and Family Factors with Trajectories of Physical and Social Aggression During Adolescence

“…At the neighborhood level, we examine socioeconomic disadvantage and social disorganization, both of which repeatedly have been found to be associated with increased physical aggression during adolescence (Loeber and Hay 1997; Farrington 1998; Howell and Hawkins 1998; Lee et al 2003; Osgood and Chambers 2000; Vazsonyi et al 2006), and are key constructs in central theories postulating neighborhood influences on behavior (Kramer 2000; Jencks and Mayer 1990; Sampson et al 2002). The family characteristics examined—family conflict, parent-child bonding, and parental control—are well-established predictors of aggression in early (Vaillancourt et al 2007) and middle childhood (Joussemet et al 2008; Pagani et al 2010), as well as adolescence (see, for example, Campbell et al 2010; Martino et al 2008; Underwood et al 2008; Vazsonyi et al 2008). Family conflict may exacerbate negative neighborhood influences on adolescent aggression, while parental bonding and control may buffer those negative effects.…”

“…Most studies of neighborhood influences on aggression have been conducted in urban inner-city areas, but some have shown neighborhood disadvantage and disorganization are associated with crime and juvenile arrests in rural areas (Lee et al 2003; Osgood and Chambers 2000). Family processes also appear to impact youth aggression in rural areas in the same manner as in suburban or urban areas (Vazsonyi et al 2008). No known studies have examined the interaction of family and neighborhood characteristics on youth risk behaviors in rural areas, however.…”

“…Studies show increases in youth aggression over time (Vanfossen et al 2010), as well as persistence of aggression into young adulthood among youth in disorganized neighborhoods (Chung et al 2002). However, some research suggests limited effects of connection to neighbors on problem behaviors (including violence, delinquency and substance use) for rural African-American youth (Vazsonyi et al 2008). Because social aggression is more covert than physical aggression (Xie et al 2005; Xie et al 2002), it is not as visible for social control by neighborhood residents.…”

Multifaceted Reality of Juvenile Delinquency: An Empirical Analysis of Structural Theories and Literature

“…Also, peer deviance was tested along with family processes and the results showed significant influence on adolescents' problem behavior (Vazsonyi et al 2008). Interestingly, according to Stuart et al (2008), results showed that the more parental involvement adolescents have fewer chances of involvement with deviant peers.…”

“…This means that socio-economic status has more of an indirect effect on juvenile delinquent behavior and, depends on the kinds of mediation, socioeconomic factors have positive and negative influence on delinquency, instead of direct effect. Vazsonyi et al (2008) refute the racial influence on delinquent behavior with their studies and, instead, more multidimensional factors, such as family, peer, and neighborhood influences on delinquent behavior were researched. The result, interestingly, suggested that only family processes and peer deviance have influence but neighborhood connections have no influence on delinquent behavior.…”