Psychological empowerment: Issues and illustrations

Discussed several issues related to psychological empowerment. The thesis of this paper is that the development of a universal and global measure of psychological empowerment may not be a feasible or appropriate goal. I begin by distinguishing between empowerment processes and outcomes. Underlying assumptions are discussed including the notion that empowerment differs across people, contexts, and times. A nomological network that includes intrapersonal, interactional, and behavioral components is also presented. Two examples of psychological empowerment for voluntary service organization members and members of a mutual help organization are described to help illustrate differences in the specific variables that may be used to measure psychological empowerment in different populations and settings.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117117/1/ajcpbf02506983.pd

The Effects of Cumulative Risks and Promotive Factors on Urban Adolescent Alcohol and Other Drug Use: A Longitudinal Study of Resiliency

Resiliency theory provides a conceptual framework for studying why some youth exposed to risk factors do not develop the negative behaviors they predict. The purpose of this study was to test compensatory and protective models of resiliency in a longitudinal sample of urban adolescents (80% African American). The data were from Years 1 (9th grade) and 4 (12th grade). The study examined effects of cumulative risk and promotive factors on adolescent polydrug use including alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. Cumulative measures of risk/promotive factors represented individual characteristics, peer influence, and parental/familial influences. After controlling for demographics, results of multiple regression of polydrug use support the compensatory model of resiliency both cross‐sectionally and longitudinally. Promotive factors were also found to have compensatory effects on change in adolescent polydrug use. The protective model of resiliency evidenced cross‐sectionally was not supported in longitudinal analysis. The findings support resiliency theory and the use of cumulative risk/promotive measures in resiliency research. Implications focused on utilizing multiple assets and resources in prevention programming are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/116955/1/ajcp9076.pd

Correlates of Participation in Neighborhood Organizations

Also PCMA Working Paper #32.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/51228/1/462.pd

Transactional Process of African American Adolescents’ Family Conflict and Violent Behavior

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109569/1/jora12056.pd

Research Methodology: An Innovative Approach to a Venerable Course

This paper outlines a number of innovations that we have recently implemented in the Research Methodology Course at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health. Consistent with the goals of evidence-based medicine, evidence-based public health, intrinsic motivation, and phase 4 (T4) translational research, we have placed the emphasis on enhancing the students’ desire to learn—and more specifically on their desire to learn rigorous methods for conducting useful research that delivers practical benefits in a straightforward manner. A dozen innovations, along with some preliminary outcomes, are outlined in detail. Clin Trans Sci 2010; Volume 3: 309–311Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/79360/1/j.1752-8062.2010.00239.x.pd

Empowerment theory, research, and application

This introduction to the special issue briefly reviews the meaning and significance of the empowerment concept and problems associated with the proliferation of interest in empowerment. We identify some of the topics not included in this issue and relate those to the many broad and diverse areas of psychological empowerment theory and community‐based research and intervention that are covered. We present synopses of each article along with some of the themes and lessons cutting across the frameworks, studies, and applications. These include a wide diversity of settings, fairly representative of empowerment interventions, and, at the same time, improved clarity (if not unanimity) of definitions and measurement, which has been a problem in much empowerment research and intervention.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117200/1/ajcpbf02506982.pd

An Analysis of Natural Mentoring Relationship Profiles and Associations with Mentees’ Mental Health: Considering Links via Support from Important Others

We explored associations between natural mentoring relationship profiles and young adults’ life satisfaction and symptoms of depression via participants’ perceived support from important others accounting for participants’ perceived support and mental health prior to the onset of their natural mentoring relationships. Participants included 396 young adults (57 % female; mean age = 30.97, SD = .6), the majority of whom identified as Black or African American (79 % Black, 18 % White, 3 % Biracial). Most participants had completed high school but few participants (13 %) had completed degrees from 4 year institutions. We used a latent profile approach to identify natural mentoring relationship profiles and employed structural equation modeling to test our study hypotheses. Slightly over half of study participants (53 %) reported the presence of a natural mentor in their lives since the age of 14. Results suggest that natural mentoring relationships characterized by high levels of relational closeness and either extended relationship duration or frequent contact may promote improvements in psychological well‐being among mentees over time via greater experiences of social support from important others.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117208/1/ajcp9598.pd

A Longitudinal Analysis of Cumulative Risks, Cumulative Promotive Factors, and Adolescent Violent Behavior

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/93547/1/jora786.pd

Neighborhoods, Social Support, and African American Adolescents' Mental Health Outcomes: A Multilevel Path Analysis

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98244/1/cdev12018.pd

A Typology of Youth Participation and Empowerment for Child and Adolescent Health Promotion

Research suggests that increasing egalitarian relations between young people and adults is optimal for healthy development; however, the empirical assessment of shared control in youth–adult partnerships is emerging, and the field still requires careful observation, identification, categorization and labeling. Thus, our objective is to offer a conceptual typology that identifies degrees of youth–adult participation while considering the development potential within each type. We use an empowerment framework, rooted in evidence‐based findings, to identify five types of youth participation: (1) Vessel, (2) Symbolic, (3) Pluralistic, (4) Independent and (5) Autonomous. The typology is constructed as a heuristic device to provide researchers, practitioners and policy‐makers with a common language for articulating degrees of youth participation for optimal child and adolescent health promotion.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117056/1/ajcp9330.pd