Natural Mentors, Mental Health, and Risk Behaviors: A Longitudinal Analysis of African American Adolescents Transitioning into Adulthood

In this study, we tested whether having a natural mentor affected the growth trajectory of health outcomes among adolescents transitioning into adulthood (5 years post‐high school). Participants in this study included 615 African American emerging adults. Outcomes assessed in this study included depressive symptoms, sexual risk behavior, and substance use. We hypothesized that participants who possessed natural mentors would demonstrate greater declines over time across all outcome variables in comparison to their counterparts who did not possess natural mentors. Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling, we found that having a natural mentor was related to less depressive symptoms and less sexual risk behavior over time. The results suggest that natural mentors may protect youth from the negative outcomes associated with the risks they face. Implications of the results for prevention are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117128/1/ajcp9325.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

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

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

Violence Exposure and Sexual Risk Behaviors for African American Adolescent Girls: The Protective Role of Natural Mentorship and Organizational Religious Involvement

African American adolescent girls are at increased risk of being exposed to community violence and being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection. Fewer studies, however, have examined the protective roles of natural mentorship and organizational religious involvement as potential moderators that could lessen the effects of violence exposure on health risk behavior. Data from 273 African American ninth grade girls were used to test hypothesized independent and moderatedâ moderation models. Results suggest that natural mentorship and religious involvement were protective for girls who reported at least one mentor and moderate to high levels of religious involvement. Our findings may be relevant for community stakeholders and organizations that directly interact with religious institutions and community programs that focus on outreach to African American adolescent girls.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151908/1/ajcp12341_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151908/2/ajcp12341.pd

Influences of Nonparental Adults on the Psychosocial Outcomes of At-Risk African American Adolescents.

This dissertation includes three studies that focus on nonparental adult influences on African American adolescents’ outcomes. All of these studies applied a resilience framework to investigate the potential of nonparental adults to influence adolescents’ outcomes. These studies focused on African American adolescents residing in urban, low-income neighborhoods. The first two studies explored potential effects of natural mentoring relationships on adolescent outcomes during the transition to adulthood, while the last study focused on how role model prosocial and antisocial behavior may influence violent behavior among a group of seventh and eighth graders. In my first study, I found that adolescents who had relationships with supportive nonparental adults (natural mentors) had fewer symptoms of depression and engaged in fewer sexual risk behaviors over time. In addition, I found that the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms was moderated by the presence of a natural mentor. In my second study, I found that adolescent mothers with natural mentors demonstrated fewer depressive symptoms and less anxiety symptoms over time in comparison to their counterparts without a natural mentor. In addition, I found that natural mentor presence moderated the relationship between stress and mental health outcomes over time. In my third study, I found that role model prosocial behavior was indirectly related to less violent behavior through adolescents’ attitudes toward violence. Additionally, I found that role model antisocial behavior was both indirectly and directly related to increased violent behavior among adolescents. Overall, these three dissertation studies suggest that nonparental adults can be powerful influences on African American adolescents’ development. The findings from these three studies suggest that by providing support and encouragement or modeling prosocial behavior, nonparental adults may help youth be resilient against risky environments. At the same time, my findings also suggest that nonparental adults have the potential to compound adolescents’ risk for negative outcomes by modeling antisocial behaviors. Programs and policies that encourage adults’ involvement in adolescents’ lives may help both motivate them to set positive examples of responsible behavior and create opportunities for youth to model their behavior.Ph.D.PsychologyUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77694/1/nhurd_1.pd

Supplemental Material - Discrimination and Mental Health Outcomes Among Underrepresented College Students: The Role of Sense of Belonging at Predominantly White Institutions

Supplementary Material for Discrimination and Mental Health Outcomes Among Underrepresented College Students: The Role of Sense of Belonging at Predominantly White Institutions by David S. Freire and Noelle M. Hurd in Emerging Adulthood.</p

Flint Adolescent Study: A Longitudinal Examination of Social Support and Academic Motivational Beliefs of African American Adolescents

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