Promoting Positive Future Expectations During Adolescence: The Role of Assets

Positive future expectations can facilitate optimal development and contribute to healthier outcomes for youth. Researchers suggest that internal resources and community‐level factors may influence adolescent future expectations, yet little is known about the processes through which these benefits are conferred. The present study examined the relationship between contribution to community, neighborhood collective efficacy, purpose, hope and future expectations, and tested a mediation model that linked contribution to community and collective efficacy with future expectations through purpose and hope in a sample of 7th grade youth (N = 196; Mage = 12.39; 60 % female; 40 % African American; 71 % economically disadvantaged). Greater collective efficacy and contribution to community predicted higher levels of hope and purpose. Higher levels of hope and purpose predicted more positive future expectations. Contribution to community and neighborhood collective efficacy indirectly predicted future expectations via hope. Implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/116358/1/ajcp9754.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

Feasibility and acceptability of a future‐oriented empowerment program to prevent substance use and school dropout among school‐disengaged youth

ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a health promotion program to prevent school dropout and substance use among middle school‐aged youth who display early warning signs of school disengagement.InterventionYouth Empowerment Solutions for Positive Futures (YES‐PF), an intensive, theoretically driven, 5‐week summer enrichment program, aims to prevent school dropout and substance use by promoting youth empowerment, school engagement, and future orientation.Design and SampleUsing a pre–post‐intervention design, we test feasibility and acceptability with 6th and 7th grade students (n = 43) who exhibited early warning signs for school disengagement (e.g., chronic absenteeism) in two school districts.MeasuresProgram evaluation components included: (a) program session forms completed by facilitators; (b) post‐program interviews with facilitators; (c) post‐intervention program evaluation surveys with youth; (d) attendance; and (e) baseline and post‐intervention surveys with youth to assess behavioral and psychosocial outcomes.ResultsFacilitators routinely delivered core component lesson activities. Acceptability and program satisfaction were evidenced in strong program attendance by youth. Youth participants reported higher levels of leadership efficacy (p < .05) and a greater sense of control over their lives and potential problems (p < .01).ConclusionsYES‐PF was feasible and acceptable to school personnel and youth. Program refinement, based on implementation findings, is discussed.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154506/1/phn12706.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154506/2/phn12706_am.pd

Do Social Connections and Hope Matter in Predicting Early Adolescent Violence?

We tested relationships between social connections, hope, and violence among young adolescents from socially distressed urban neighborhoods, and examined whether relationships between adolescents' family and school connectedness and violence involvement were mediated by hopefulness. Data were from middle school students involved in the Lead Peace demonstration study. The sample (N = 164) was 51.8% female; 42% African American, 28% Asian, 13% Hispanic, and 17% mixed race or other race; average age was 12.1 years; 46% reported physical fighting in the past year. In multivariate models, parent‐family connectedness was protective against violence; school connectedness was marginally protective. Hopefulness was related to lower levels of violence. The relationship between school connectedness and violence was mediated by hopefulness; some evidence for mediation also existed in the family‐parent connectedness and violence relationship. Findings warrant continued exploration of hopefulness as an important protective factor against violence involvement, and as a mediator in relationships between social connections and violence involvement.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/116982/1/ajcp9387.pd

Peer Group Therapy for Adolescent Substance Misuse Treatment: A Scoping Review Protocol

Scoping review protocolObjective: The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and type of evidence, in relation to group therapy to support adolescents who misuse substances. Introduction: There has been an increasing concern for adolescent substance use. In response, researchers and practitioners have been devoted to learning various treatment methods. However, while there have been studies focused on individual and family therapy, less is known about the effectiveness of peer group therapy in treating adolescent substance misuse. Inclusion criteria: Studies must evaluate the effectiveness of group therapy directly on adolescents aged 12 to 18 years and implement group therapy for substance misuse treatment. The following group therapies will be included: psychotherapy groups (or group therapy), psychodrama groups, cognitive-behavioral groups, and psychoeducational groups. The studies must predominantly focus on adolescent substance use. Substances included will be alcohol, marijuana, vaping/tobacco, opioids, and illicit drugs. We will exclude studies that cover children and young adults. Additionally, literature on substance use prevention and family therapy will be excluded. Though family therapy is considered a form of group therapy, we will be focusing on group therapy among peers, not family members. Methods: Multiple databases will be searched, including PubMed, Embase, CINHAL, PsycInfo, Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest using keywords, indexed terms, and phrases, for the following concepts: group therapy, adolescent, and substance use. Each included study will be rated using the JBI Levels of Evidence framework. Details on the type of and effectiveness of group therapy in each included study will be extracted, and results will be presented in tables and diagrams.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/171080/1/Group Therapy for Adolescent Substance Misuse Treatment _ A Scoping Review Protocol.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/171080/2/Appendix I.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/171080/3/Appendix II.pdfDescription of Group Therapy for Adolescent Substance Misuse Treatment _ A Scoping Review Protocol.pdf : Scoping Review ProtocolDescription of Appendix I.pdf : Supplemental File 1 Search StrategyDescription of Appendix II.pdf : Supplemental File 2 Data Extraction InstrumentSEL

Purpose and mastery as predictors of perceived health and substance use problems

We explored whether purpose in life and mastery predicted perceived physical health and problematic substance use among a sample of emerging adults who reported ever using alcohol or drugs. We examined perceived stress and coping as potential mediators of these associations and explored whether parental support moderated any of these associations. In a sample of emerging adults from across the United States (N = 2,564; Mage = 20.87, standard deviation = 1.75; 49.6% male), purpose in life and mastery were associated with better‐perceived health and fewer negative consequences of drug use via lower perceived stress and coping. In addition, parental support modified the relationship between purpose in life and stress and coping. The findings suggest potential health benefits associated with a greater purpose in life and mastery and indicate that parental support may enhance these associations.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/150587/1/jcop22200_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/150587/2/jcop22200.pd

Trajectories of organized activity participation among urban adolescents: Associations with young adult outcomes

Organized activity participation provides opportunities for adolescents to develop assets that may support favorable outcomes in young adulthood. Activity participation may be especially beneficial for marginalized youth because they are likely to face stressors that increase risk of negative outcomes. We used growth mixture modeling to identify activity participation trajectories among African American adolescents in an urban, disadvantaged community (Wave 1: mean age = 14.86 years, standard deviation = 0.64; 49% male, N = 681). We also investigated if young adult outcomes differed by participation trajectory subgroups, the results of which suggested that a 3‐class model best fit the data: low initial and decreasing levels of participation (74%); moderate initial and consistent (21%); and moderate initial and increasing (5%). Adolescents in the increasing class reported higher life satisfaction and lower substance use in young adulthood compared to the decreasing class. Youth who increase participation in activities over time may experience greater opportunities for building assets related to positive development that support health and well‐being into young adulthood.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136459/1/jcop21863.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136459/2/jcop21863_am.pd

The Relationship Between Cumulative Risk and Promotive Factors and Violent Behavior Among Urban Adolescents

Resiliency theory posits that some youth exposed to risk factors do not develop negative behaviors due to the influence of promotive factors. This study examines the effects of cumulative risk and promotive factors on adolescent violent behavior and tests two models of resilience—the compensatory model and the protective model—in a sample of adolescent patients (14–18 years old; n = 726) presenting to an urban emergency department who report violent behavior. Cumulative measures of risk and promotive factors consist of individual characteristics and peer, family, and community influences. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to test the two models of resilience (using cumulative measures of risk and promotive factors) for violent behavior within a sample of youth reporting violent behavior. Higher cumulative risk was associated with higher levels of violent behavior. Higher levels of promotive factors were associated with lower levels of violent behavior and moderated the association between risk and violent behaviors. Our results support the risk‐protective model of resiliency and suggest that promotive factors can help reduce the burden of cumulative risk for youth violence.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117187/1/ajcp9541.pd

Adolescent Resilience: Promotive Factors That Inform Prevention

Resilience theory provides a framework for studying and understanding how some youths overcome risk exposure and guides the development of interventions for prevention using a strengths‐based approach. In this article, we describe basic concepts of the theory, such as promotive factors, and distinguish assets and resources that help youths overcome the negative effects of risk exposure. We also present three models of resilience theory—compensatory, protective, and challenge—and review empirical research on three promotive factors—ethnic identity, social support, and prosocial involvement—that include individual, family, and community levels of analysis and have modifiable qualities for informing interventions. Finally, we present examples of how research findings from the three promotive factors can be translated into interventions to enhance youth development.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/101789/1/cdep12042.pd