Why now? Examining antecedents for substance use initiation among African American adolescents

AbstractCurrent adolescent substance use risk models have inadequately predicted use for African Americans, offering limited knowledge about differential predictability as a function of developmental period. Among a sample of 500 African American youth (ages 11–21), four risk indices (i.e., social risk, attitudinal risk, intrapersonal risk, and racial discrimination risk) were examined in the prediction of alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette initiation during early (ages 11–13), mid (ages 16–18), and late (ages 19–21) adolescence. Results showed that when developmental periods were combined, racial discrimination was the only index that predicted initiation for all three substances. However, when risk models were stratified based on developmental period, variation was found within and across substance types. Results highlight the importance of racial discrimination in understanding substance use initiation among African American youth and the need for tailored interventions based on developmental stage.

Download Full-text

“Broken windows”: Relationship between neighborhood conditions and behavioral health among low-income African American adolescents

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105316681064 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 527-537 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Dexter R Voisin ◽

Dong Ha Kim

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Use ◽

African American ◽

Behavioral Health ◽

Low Income ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

African American Youth ◽

African American Adolescents ◽

Broken Windows ◽

Neighborhood Conditions

This study explored the association between neighborhood conditions and behavioral health among African American youth. Cross-sectional data were collected from 683 African American youth from low-income communities. Measures for demographics, neighborhood conditions (i.e. broken windows index), mental health, delinquency, substance use, and sexual risk behaviors were assessed. Major findings indicated that participants who reported poorer neighborhood conditions compared to those who lived in better living conditions were more likely to report higher rates of mental health problems, delinquency, substance use, and unsafe sexual behaviors. Environmental factors need to be considered when addressing the behavioral health of low-income African American youth.

Download Full-text

The Protective Role of Religious Involvement in African American and Caribbean Black Adolescents’ Experiences of Racial Discrimination

Youth & Society ◽

10.1177/0044118x15626063 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 50 (5) ◽

pp. 659-687 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Sheretta T. Butler-Barnes ◽

Pamela P. Martin ◽

Nikeea Copeland-Linder ◽

Eleanor K. Seaton ◽

Niki Matusko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

Racial Discrimination ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Black Adolescents ◽

African American Youth ◽

Religious Involvement ◽

African American Adolescents ◽

Psychological Outcomes ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Caribbean Black

For many Black adolescents, racial discrimination increases the risk of developing adverse psychological outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the interrelationships among religious involvement, racial discrimination, and psychological outcomes among a nationally representative sample of African American adolescents and Caribbean Black adolescents from the National Survey of American Life. Multiple regression models were used to determine the interactive effects of religious involvement and racial discrimination experiences on Black adolescents’ psychological outcomes. Findings indicate that religious involvement was a protective factor for Caribbean Black adolescents but not African American youth. The implications of these findings underscore the varied roles of religious involvement for African American and Caribbean Black adolescents.

Download Full-text

Pathways to delinquency and substance use among African American youth: Does future orientation mediate the effects of peer norms and parental monitoring?

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105317736912 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (6) ◽

pp. 840-852 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Phillip L Marotta ◽

Dexter R Voisin

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

African American ◽

Low Income ◽

Parental Monitoring ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Future Orientation ◽

African American Youth ◽

African American Adolescents ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Peer Norms

The following study assessed whether future orientation mediated the effects of peer norms and parental monitoring on delinquency and substance use among 549 African American adolescents. Structural equation modeling computed direct and indirect (meditational) relationships between parental monitoring and peer norms through future orientation. Parental monitoring significantly correlated with lower delinquency through future orientation ( B = −.05, standard deviation = .01, p < .01). Future orientation mediated more than quarter (27.70%) of the total effect of parental monitoring on delinquency. Overall findings underscore the importance of strengthening resilience factors for African American youth, especially those who live in low-income communities.

Download Full-text