Search

Few researchers have explored future educational aspirations as a promotive factor against exposure to community violence in relation to adolescents violent behavior over time. The present study examined the direct and indirect effect of exposure to community violence prior to 9th grade on attitudes about violence and violent behavior in 12th grade, and violent behavior at age 22 via 9th grade future educational aspirations in a sample of urban African American youth (n = 681; 49% male). Multi-group SEM was used to test the moderating effect of gender. Exposure to violence was associated with lower future educational aspirations. For boys, attitudes about violence directly predicted violent behavior at age 22. For boys, future educational aspirations indirectly predicted less violent behavior at age 22. Implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Few researchers have explored future educational aspirations as a promotive factor against exposure to community violence in relation to adolescents' violent behavior over time. The present study examined the direct and indirect effect of exposure to community violence prior to 9th grade on attitudes about violence and violent behavior in 12th grade, and violent behavior at age 22 via 9th grade future educational aspirations in a sample of urban African American youth (n = 681; 49% male). Multi-group SEM was used to test the moderating effect of gender. Exposure to violence was associated with lower future educational aspirations. For boys, attitudes about violence directly predicted violent behavior at age 22. For boys, future educational aspirations indirectly predicted less violent behavior at age 22. Implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Family conflict is a salient risk factor for African American adolescents mental health problems. No study we are aware of has estimated trajectories of their family conflict and whether groups differ in internalizing and externalizing problems during the transition to young adulthood, a critical antecedent in adult mental health and psychopathology. As hypothesized, latent class growth analysis approximated 4 developmental trajectories of family conflict during high school for 681 African American adolescents (49% boys). Trajectory classes differed in anxiety, depressive symptoms, and violent behavior at age 20, supporting expectations that adolescents demonstrating elevated levels and atypical trajectories of family conflict in high school would report greater mental health problems as young adults. Family conflict jeopardizes African American adolescents transition to young adulthood by contributing to mental health problems.

Family conflict is a salient risk factor for African American adolescents' mental health problems. No study we are aware of has estimated trajectories of their family conflict and whether groups differ in internalizing and externalizing problems during the transition to young adulthood, a critical antecedent in adult mental health and psychopathology. As hypothesized, latent class growth analysis approximated 4 developmental trajectories of family conflict during high school for 681 African American adolescents (49% boys). Trajectory classes differed in anxiety, depressive symptoms, and violent behavior at age 20, supporting expectations that adolescents demonstrating elevated levels and atypical trajectories of family conflict in high school would report greater mental health problems as young adults. Family conflict jeopardizes African American adolescents' transition to young adulthood by contributing to mental health problems.

Multiple risk behaviors are of special concern worldwide and in Thailand. They have increased dramatically among male adolescents. Interestingly, many studies have highlighted only a single risk behavior without considering the importance of mutual relationship of this with other behaviors, and also have not included multiple perspectives from male adolescents, their parents and teachers. This qualitative descriptive study therefore aimed to explore the culturally-related factors causing multiple risk behaviors of Thai adolescents from different perspectives. Eleven focus groups comprising six groups of 25 male students with multiple risk behaviors, three groups of 16 parents, and two groups of ten teachers were held in a secondary school in eastern Bangkok. The data were analyzed by content analysis. The findings indicated the presence of three related themes: Individual issues including knowledge on risk behaviors prevention, attitude, self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, and time management; Family issues including family relationships and parental monitoring; and Environmental issues referring to two components, friends and school. Friend issues were pressure and motivation, whereas school issues related to regulation, atmosphere, and school as an unsafe place. The findings suggest that preventive intervention programs should address the influences at the individual level, as well as the contextual level. Nurses and other health professionals should understand the uniqueness of adolescents and their needs in order to reduce risk opportunities. Planning to reduce multiple risk behaviors within family and schools should be supported and encouraged among male adolescents and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine whether a recent prescription for stimulant medication is associated with peer victimization among youth with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Methods: Data from 4,965 adolescents attending five public schools who completed an annual web survey over 4 years were used to examine recent stimulant medication prescription and self-reported frequent victimization.Results: Adolescents with ADHD and recent stimulant prescription reported more victimization than those without ADHD, but similar to adolescents with ADHD and no recent prescription. Adolescents with ADHD and past 12-month diversion of their prescribed stimulants were at greatest risk of 12-month frequent victimization compared with adolescents without ADHD and adolescents with ADHD but no recent prescription. Youth approached to divert reported more victimization than youth not approached. Youth who diverted reported more victimization than those who did not divert.Conclusions: Close parent-prescriber collaboration is needed to ensure effective medical treatment for ADHD without greater risk for victimization and treatment failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]