Contextual Stress and Health Risk Behaviors Among African American Adolescents

• NCJ Number: 233325
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 40 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2011 Pages: 158-173
• Author(s): Nikeea Copeland-Linder; Sharon F. Lambert; Yi-Fu Chen; Nicholas S. Ialongo
• Date Published: February 2011
• Length: 16 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH057005; P30MH066247; DA011796; P20MD000165; 00198
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institute of Mental Health; National Ctr on Minority Health and Health Disparities
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined stressors and health risk behaviors in urban African-American Adolescents.

Abstract

This study examined the longitudinal association between contextual stress and health risk behaviors and the role of protective factors in a community epidemiologically-defined sample of urban African-American adolescents (N = 500; 46.4 percent female). Structural equation modeling was used to create a latent variable measuring contextual stress (community violence, neighborhood disorder, and experiences with racial discrimination). Contextual stress in 8th grade was associated with aggressive behavior and substance use 2 years later for boys. For girls, contextual stress predicted later substance use, but not aggressive behavior. High academic competence and self-worth reduced the impact of contextual stress on substance use for boys. Implications for intervention and directions for future research on health risk behaviors among African-American adolescents are discussed. (Published Abstracts) Tables, figures, and references