Stability and changes in problem behavior during adolescence: multilevel predictors and moderators

This study predicted that community ethnic heterogeneity (controlling for community poverty), family adversity (i.e., family economic hardship and non-intact two-parent family/single parenthood), family social resources (i.e., parent-adolescent relationship, parental control, parental warmth, parental knowledge), and individual traits (i.e., racial minority status and gender) would influence adolescent problem behavior trajectories both additively and multiplicatively. In addition, the study predicted that there would be racial/ethnic and gender differences in problem behavior over time. An effective analysis of community influence on individual outcomes requires a multilevel analysis that includes community-level, family-level, and individual-level variables. This multilevel analysis used 15,170 adolescent data values from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, Wave 1 (1995), Wave 2 (1996), Wave 3 (2001), and the 1990 U.S. Census. The findings demonstrate that there is: (a) change in adolescent problem behavior over time; (b) unique influences of family adversity, family social resources, and individual factors (i.e., race and gender) on adolescent problem behavior; (c) diminishing effects of community poverty over time; (d) diminishing effects of family social resources (i.e., family warmth and parent-adolescent relationship) producing stability and equality over time during late adolescence; and (e) contextual dissipation of the influences of some family social resources (i.e., parent-adolescent relationship) under high ethnic heterogeneous conditions

The community context of family resources and adolescent delinquency

The study predicted that community adversity (ethnic diversity), controlling for community poverty, and family adversity (family poverty and single parenthood) would influence adolescent delinquency additively and multiplicatively through family social resources and through individual/control factors. An effective analysis of community influence on individual outcomes requires a multilevel analysis that includes community level, family level, and individual level variables. This quantitative research used data samples from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, Wave 1 (1995), and the 1999 U.S. Census. The findings demonstrate that there is (a) a unique influence of ethnic diversity on adolescent delinquency, independent of community poverty and family adversity; (b) an indirect influence of ethnic diversity on adolescent delinquency through family social resources; (c) a moderation of detrimental influence of minority status under highly diverse community environments and dissipation of the beneficial influences of family social resources under highly diverse community environments

Externalities from Alcohol Consumption in the 2005 US National Alcohol Survey: Implications for Policy

A subsample (n = 2,550) of the 2005 US National Alcohol Survey of adults was used to estimate prevalence and correlates of six externalities from alcohol abuse––family problems, assaults, accompanying intoxicated driver, vehicular accident, financial problems and vandalized property––all from another’s drinking. On a lifetime basis, 60% reported externalities, with a lower 12-month rate (9%). Women reported more family/marital and financial impacts and men more assaults, accompanying drunk drivers, and accidents. Being unmarried, older, white and ever having monthly heavy drinking or alcohol problems was associated with more alcohol externalities. Publicizing external costs of drinking could elevate political will for effective alcohol controls

Context and alcohol consumption behaviors affect inhibitory control

Contrasting the traditional focus on alcohol-related visual images, this study examined the impact of both alcohol-related auditory cues and visual stimuli on inhibitory control (IC). Fifty-eight participants completed a Go/No-Go Task, with alcohol-related and neutral visual stimuli presented with or without short or continuous auditory bar cues. Participants performed worse when presented with alcohol-related images and auditory cues. Problematic alcohol consumption and higher effortful control (EC) were associated with better IC performance for alcohol images. It is postulated that those with higher EC may be better able to ignore alcohol-related stimuli, while those with problematic alcohol consumption are unconsciously less attuned to these. This runs contrary to current dogma and highlights the importance of examining both auditory and visual stimuli when investigating IC

Gender Differences in Public and Private Drinking Contexts: A Multi-Level GENACIS Analysis

This multi-national study hypothesized that higher levels of country-level gender equality would predict smaller differences in the frequency of women’s compared to men’s drinking in public (like bars and restaurants) settings and possibly private (home or party) settings. GENACIS project survey data with drinking contexts included 22 countries in Europe (8); the Americas (7); Asia (3); Australasia (2), and Africa (2), analyzed using hierarchical linear models (individuals nested within country). Age, gender and marital status were individual predictors; country-level gender equality as well as equality in economic participation, education, and political participation, and reproductive autonomy and context of violence against women measures were country-level variables. In separate models, more reproductive autonomy, economic participation, and educational attainment and less violence against women predicted smaller differences in drinking in public settings. Once controlling for country-level economic status, only equality in economic participation predicted the size of the gender difference. Most country-level variables did not explain the gender difference in frequency of drinking in private settings. Where gender equality predicted this difference, the direction of the findings was opposite from the direction in public settings, with more equality predicting a larger gender difference, although this relationship was no longer significant after controlling for country-level economic status. Findings suggest that country-level gender equality may influence gender differences in drinking. However, the effects of gender equality on drinking may depend on the specific alcohol measure, in this case drinking context, as well as on the aspect of gender equality considered. Similar studies that use only global measures of gender equality may miss key relationships. We consider potential implications for alcohol related consequences, policy and public health

The Other Side of Paradise: How Architectural Design Can Impact the Recovery of Suicidal Individuals, Survivors, and Bereaved Families

This thesis explores how architectural design can impact the recovery process in individuals with suicidal thoughts, survivors of suicide, and the bereaved. Research on precedents, writings, and studies on psychological and biophilic elements will guide in creating a design that bridges the disconnect between human beings and nature. This disconnect has been created by mental illness and isolation despite networking and digital connection through social media

The community context of family resources and adolescent delinquency

The study predicted that community adversity (ethnic diversity), controlling for community poverty, and family adversity (family poverty and single parenthood) would influence adolescent delinquency additively and multiplicatively through family social resources and through individual/control factors. An effective analysis of community influence on individual outcomes requires a multilevel analysis that includes community level, family level, and individual level variables. This quantitative research used data samples from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, Wave 1 (1995), and the 1999 U.S. Census. The findings demonstrate that there is (a) a unique influence of ethnic diversity on adolescent delinquency, independent of community poverty and family adversity; (b) an indirect influence of ethnic diversity on adolescent delinquency through family social resources; (c) a moderation of detrimental influence of minority status under highly diverse community environments and dissipation of the beneficial influences of family social resources under highly diverse community environments.</p

Stability and changes in problem behavior during adolescence: multilevel predictors and moderators

This study predicted that community ethnic heterogeneity (controlling for community poverty), family adversity (i.e., family economic hardship and non-intact two-parent family/single parenthood), family social resources (i.e., parent-adolescent relationship, parental control, parental warmth, parental knowledge), and individual traits (i.e., racial minority status and gender) would influence adolescent problem behavior trajectories both additively and multiplicatively. In addition, the study predicted that there would be racial/ethnic and gender differences in problem behavior over time. An effective analysis of community influence on individual outcomes requires a multilevel analysis that includes community-level, family-level, and individual-level variables. This multilevel analysis used 15,170 adolescent data values from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, Wave 1 (1995), Wave 2 (1996), Wave 3 (2001), and the 1990 U.S. Census. The findings demonstrate that there is: (a) change in adolescent problem behavior over time; (b) unique influences of family adversity, family social resources, and individual factors (i.e., race and gender) on adolescent problem behavior; (c) diminishing effects of community poverty over time; (d) diminishing effects of family social resources (i.e., family warmth and parent-adolescent relationship) producing stability and equality over time during late adolescence; and (e) contextual dissipation of the influences of some family social resources (i.e., parent-adolescent relationship) under high ethnic heterogeneous conditions.</p

Measurement of self-efficacy and proxy efficacy for middle school youth physical activity

This study developed youth self-efficacy (SEPA) and proxy efficacy (PEPA) measures for physical activity (PA). Proxy efficacy was defined as a youth&apos;s confidence in his or her skills and abilities to get others to act in one&apos;s interests to create supportive environments for PA. Each spring of their sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade years, middle school students completed SEPA and PEPA questions and then, for 3 days, recalled their previous day&apos;s after-school PA. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a four-factor structure (SEPA for 1-3 days, SEPA for 5-7 days, PEPA-Parents, PEPA-School). Across study years, SEPA 1-3 days and 5-7 days increased and PEPA-Parents and PEPA-School decreased. Initial levels of PEPA-Parents and SEPA scales were associated with initial levels of PA. From sixth through seventh grade, changes in SEPA scales were associated with changes in PA. Studies should test whether interventions targeting self-efficacy and proxy efficacy influence PA. © 2007 Human Kinetics, Inc