Predictors of co-occurring risk behavior trajectories among economically disadvantaged African-American youth: contextual and individual factors

J Adolesc Health. 2014 Sep;55(3):380-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.02.023. Epub 2014 Apr 19.

Abstract

Purpose: African-American youth, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, evidence high rates of negative outcomes associated with three problem behaviors, conduct problems, risky sexual behavior, and substance use. This study used a contextually tailored version of problem behavior theory (PBT) to examine predictors of the simultaneous development of problem behaviors in this specific cultural group.

Methods: Sociocontextual and individual variables representing four PBT predictor categories, controls protection, support protection, models risk, and vulnerability risk, were examined as predictors of co-occurring problem behaviors among economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents (n = 949). Specifically, the likelihood of following three classes of multiple problem behavior trajectories spanning ages 12-18, labeled the "early experimenters," "increasing high risk-takers," and "adolescent-limited" classes, as opposed to a "normative" class, was examined.

Results: Among other findings, controls protection in the form of a more stringent household curfew at age 12 was related to a lower likelihood of being in the "early experimenters" and "increasing high risk-takers" classes. Conversely, vulnerability risk manifested as stronger attitudes of violence inevitability was associated with a higher likelihood of being in the "early experimenters" class. However, the PBT category of support protection was not associated with risk trajectory class. More distal neighborhood-level manifestations of PBT categories also did not predict co-occurring behavior problems.

Conclusion: Guided by an incorporation of contextually salient processes into PBT, prevention programs aiming to decrease co-occurring problem behaviors among low-income African-American adolescents would do well to target both proximal systems and psychological constructs related to perceived security throughout adolescence.

Keywords: African-American; Low-income; Problem behavior theory; Risk behaviors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior*
  • Alabama / epidemiology
  • Black or African American*
  • Conduct Disorder / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Poverty*
  • Risk Factors
  • Risk-Taking*
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Unsafe Sex / statistics & numerical data