Life stressors, neighborhood disadvantage, and resources: a focus on inner-city children's adjustment

J Clin Child Psychol. 1997 Jun;26(2):130-44. doi: 10.1207/s15374424jccp2602_2.

Abstract

Examined the contribution of particular stressors and resources to inner-city children's adjustment. Fourth, 5th, and 6th graders (N = 315; 66% from ethnic minority groups) reported on their recent exposure to stressful events and neighborhood disadvantage, their perceptions of self-worth and social support, and their behavioral and academic adjustment. Hierarchical regressions indicated unique contributions of stressful events and neighborhood disadvantage to predicting antisocial behavior; higher levels of self-worth and family support were related to lower levels of antisocial behavior, but higher levels of peer support were related to higher levels of antisocial behavior. Furthermore, whereas family support buffered the relation between stressful events and antisocial behavior, peer support exacerbated the effect of stressors on behavioral maladjustment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Achievement
  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Child
  • Child Behavior Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Child Behavior Disorders / psychology
  • Crime
  • Family
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events*
  • Male
  • Peer Group
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data
  • Poverty
  • Residence Characteristics / classification
  • Self Concept
  • Social Support
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology
  • Unemployment
  • Urban Population* / statistics & numerical data