An investigation of the decision-making skills of at-risk African American male youth

This study examines the relationship between decision-making skills and age among a sample of at-risk African American boys. African American male students (N = 217) between 8 and 14 years old comprised the sample. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Decision-Making Instrument was used to gather information regarding students\u27 level of decision-making skill and the most frequent types of error made by students in their decision-making processes. Findings suggest that participants were generally not efficacious in their ability to make decisions with a health or a social focus. Students made more errors involving skipped steps than any other error type, regardless of age. Prevention practitioners are encouraged to consider integrating decision-making skill, the stage of cognitive development, and behavioral dispositions in developing prevention programming for high-risk youth. Copyright © 2000, Howard University

Anger Expression Mode, Depressive Symptoms, Hopelessness, and Decision Coping among African American Adolescents

This study examined the relationship between anger expression mode, depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and decision coping patterns among a non-clinical community sample of 276 low-income African American adolescents (mean age = 14.47). Participants were students in sixth through tenth grades enrolled in health and wellness classes in two public schools in West Tennessee. They were asked to complete a battery of instruments including the Anger Style Inventory, Children\u27s Depression Inventory, Hopelessness Scale for Children, and Flinders Adolescent Decision Making Questionnaire. Findings indicate a significant association between anger expression mode, depressive symptomatology, hopelessness, and decision coping pattern among study participants. Gender and screening positive for depressive symptoms predicted participant\u27s anger response mode. Using multiple assessment scales may provide useful information toward preventing the onset of clinically significant emotional disorders among adolescents. © Taylor & Francis

Age of onset, periods of risk, and patterns of progression in drug use among american indian high school students

A sample of 277 Native American students (grades 7 to 12) was surveyed to examine the age of onset, patterns of progression, and periods of risk for drug use. Results suggest that Native American youth begin smoking cigarettes and marijuana, drinking, sniffing solvents, and using cocaine as early as 10 years of age. The period of risk for initiation of drug use was between the ages of 10 and 13 years. Implications for drug use prevention-education programming are presented. © 1987 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted

Cognitive level and health decision-making in children: A preliminary study

The study examines children\u27s stage of cognitive development in relation to their patterns of health decision-making, including their cognitive capabilities in integrating the sequential stages of the decision-making process. A sample of 81 male (N=33) and female (N=48) students were drawn from two urban public schools in West Tennessee. All participants in the study were of African-American descent. The Centers for Disease Control Decision-Making Instrument was used to assess students\u27 decision-making as well as their understanding of the decision-making process. The children\u27s cognitive level was determined by their performance on three Piagetian conservation tasks. Findings revealed that both the preoperational and concrete operational children performed significantly below the formal operational children in terms of total correct responses to the decision-making scenarios. Error type analyses indicated that the preoperational children made more errors involving skipped step than did either the concrete or formal operational children. There were no significant differences between children\u27s level of cognitive development and any other error type. Implications for health promotion and disease prevention programs among prevention practitioners who work regularly with children are discussed. © 1994 Human Sciences Press, Inc

Onset of Drug Use among Rural Black Youth

A sample of 362 Black students (grades 7 to 12) who reside in a rural county in Alabama was surveyed by teacher-administered questionnaire to examine the age of onset and periods of risk for drug use, and patterns of multiple drug use. A questionnaire was used also to obtain demographic parameters of drug use as well as information about the use of six categories of drugs. Results suggest that aggregately rural Black youth began drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and marijuana, and using smokeless tobacco and solvents by age 10 years, whereas initiation into cocaine use began by age 1 years. The period of risk for initiation of drug use was between ages 10 and 14 years. Approximately 65% of ever-users were single drug users, whereas 35% were multiple drug users at the period of initial experimentation. © 1989, Sage Publications. All rights reserved

Decision making correlates of depressive symptoms among african-american adolescents: Implications for prevention approaches?

Depression is the most common disorder of all mental illnesses. According to Healthy People 2010, one in five children and adolescents between the ages of 9 and 17 years has a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. Adolescent depression is associated with impairment of functioning particularly in the domains of decision making and self-efficacy. The present investigation examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and decision making among a nonreferred, nonclinical community sample of 276 low-income African-American adolescents. The students ranged in age from 12 to 17 years. The Children\u27s Depression Inventory (CDI) was used to assess depressive symptomatology among participants. The Flinders Adolescent Decision Making Questionnaire was used for assessing participants\u27 decision making and decision coping patterns. The instrument was group-administered in classroom settings by a health educator and a clinical psychology graduate student. Findings indicated a significant correlation between adolescents\u27 self-reported depressive symptomatology, as represented by their CDI scores, and inadequacy toward making decisions. Perhaps increasing competence in decision making may have beneficial effects on overall mood and depressive symptoms among at-risk adolescent populations. © 2002 Taylor and Francis Group, LTD

Depressive symptoms and decision making among African American youth

Childhood and adolescent depression has emerged as a public health concern because of its impairment of functioning, particularly in the domains of decision making and self-efficacy. The present investigation examines the association between depressive symptoms and decision coping patterns among a nonreferred, nonclinical community sample of 276 low-income African American adolescents. The students ranged in age from 12 to 17 years. The Children\u27s Depression Inventory was used to assess participants\u27 depressive symptomatology. The Flinders Adolescent Decision Making Questionnaire was used for assessing participants\u27 decision coping patterns. The instrument was group administered in classroom settings by the research staff. Findings indicated a significant association between depressive symptomatology and the use of maladaptive decision coping patterns. Perhaps increasing competence in decision making may have beneficial effects on overall mood and depressive symptoms among children and adolescents

Perspectives of low-income African Americans on syphilis and HIV: Implications for prevention

Infectious syphilis disproportionately affects African Americans living in poverty in metropolitan areas in the southeastern United States. In this population, where syphilis persists, the rates of HIV and AIDS are also persistently high. In an effort to facilitate the design of more effective prevention programs, the present investigation employed focus groups to obtain information from low-income African Americans concerning the determinants of high rates of syphilis and HIV/AIDS in their communities. The subjects were 36 African American men and women ages 18 to 56 residing in metropolitan Memphis and surrounding Shelby County, Tennessee. Overall, the authors found significant lack of awareness of the magnitude of HIV/AIDS and syphilis in African American communities and lack of knowledge about the etiology and transmission of syphilis. The investigation points to the important role of women and partnerships of community organizations in preventing the spread of HIV, syphilis, and other sexually transmitted diseases in this population

Building self-esteem through social skills training and cultural awareness: A community-based approach for preventing violence among African American youth

In West Tennessee, the Juvenile Court Report indicated that African American male youths were six times as likely to be referred on aggravated assault charges, and were taken into protective custody four times as often as their white counterparts. This study aimed to help lessen the likelihood of African American male youths\u27 involvement with the juvenile justice system by: (a) assisting them in developing positive self-esteem; (b) teaching them decision-making and conflict resolution skills; and (c) exposing them to their culture and heritage. A sample of 122 African American male students were drawn from public schools in West Tennessee. The Stephan-Rosenfield Racial Attitude Scale and Banks Attitude Scale were used to assess students\u27 level of self-esteem. Findings revealed that the mean scores on participants\u27 concept of their physical characteristics and ethnic identity improved at post-program, whereas attitudes toward their neighborhood and school did not. Only students within the age range 10-11 years showed an improvement in their mean scores for physical self-concept and attitude towards African Americans relative to those in 8-9 and 12-14 age categories. Lessons learned and implications for violence prevention programs for at-risk populations are discussed