Examining the risk and protective factors of gang involvement among Hispanic youth in Maryland

Research on the risk and protect factors of gang membership as they apply to Hispanic youth is limited and inconclusive. This study seeks to advance the literature on the risk and protective factors of gang involvement among a sample of Hispanic youth living in a Maryland county. This study used self‐report data from 936 Hispanic youth about their interaction with gang members, their family, their education, immigration and acculturation status, and self‐concept. Logistic regression was used to determine whether certain factors increased the likelihood of gang membership. Youth with greater levels of sadness and loneliness, those who have been approached by a gang to be recruited, and those who have siblings in gangs are significantly more likely to become gang members. In addition, the more risk factors a youth has, the higher their risk of gang membership. None of the protective factors analyzed had a significant influence on gang membership.     

Family‐based prevention counseling for high‐risk young adolescents: Immediate outcomes

Family prevention counseling, which features customized prevention planning for individual families, is a promising approach for preventive intervention with adolescents at high risk for substance abuse and conduct disorder. A randomized study (N = 124) tested the post‐intervention efficacy of an indicated, family‐based prevention model with a sample of inner‐city African‐American youths (ages 11–14). Key risk and protective factors associated with the development of drug use and antisocial behavior were targeted in four domains: self‐competence, family functioning, school involvement, and peer associations. Compared to controls, participants in family prevention counseling showed gains in global self‐worth, family cohesion, and bonding to school, and a decrease in peer antisocial behavior. The potential utility of family prevention counseling within a unified prevention framework is discussed. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Community involvement and victimization at school: an analysis through family,personal and social adjustment

The present study analyzes the impact of adolescents' community involvement on victimization by peers at school through various indicators of family, personal and social adjustment (openness of communication with mother and father, life satisfaction, social self‐esteem, and loneliness). Participating in the project were 565 adolescents aged 11 to 18 (51% male) drawn from secondary schools in Spain. Statistical analyses were conducted using bivariate correlations, the t test and structural equation modeling. Results indicated an indirect and protective influence of community involvement, openness of communication with parents and life satisfaction on victimization by peers. There was also a direct protective effect of social self‐esteem and a direct risk effect of loneliness on victimization at school. Findings are discussed in light of the consideration that community involvement is a key factor in the promotion of other protective factors related to adolescent victimization at school. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Screening for and prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis C among an outpatient urban sample of people with serious mental illness and co‐occurring substance abuse

Background: To assess rates of screening and testing of HIV and HCV among those with serious mental illness and co‐occurring substance use disorders. Methods: One hundred fifty‐three people with serious mental illness and co‐occurring substance use disorders completed measures and were screened for HIV and HCV. Results: Six percent were HIV positive and 25% were HCV positive. Almost a quarter reported a history of injection drug use and 86% reported a history of unprotected sexual encounters. Compared to those without a diagnosis of Hepatitis C, those diagnosed with Hepatitis C were significantly more likely to have a sexually transmitted infection, (p=0.01), have a lifetime history of injection drug use, (p<0.001), and a lifetime history of sniffing drugs, (p=0.01). Conclusions: Given the high levels of infection of HIV and HCV and high levels of transmission risk factors efforts to improve screening and provide risk reduction counseling are warranted. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Effects of trauma intervention on HIV sexual risk behaviors among women with co‐occurring disorders in substance abuse treatment

Women in substance abuse treatment often have co‐occurring mental health disorders and a history of trauma; they are also at high risk for HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases via unprotected sex. A quasi‐experimental study evaluated the effectiveness of trauma‐enhanced substance abuse treatment combined with HIV/AIDS prevention (N = 122) on reducing sexual risk behaviors compared to treatment with services‐as‐usual (N = 110). Participants in the services‐as‐usual condition were 2.8 times more likely to engage in unprotected sex at the 6‐month follow‐up and 4.5 times more likely to do so at the 12‐month follow‐up than those in the intervention program. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 35: 895–908, 2007.     

Relationships between family structure,adolescent health status and substance use: Does ethnicity matter?

We examined the variations of adolescent health status and risk involvement– prevalence of mental health disabilities, chronic health conditions, substance use, and exposure to tobacco–between 6 family structures in a school‐based sample of Latino, Somali, Hmong, and White students and whether ethnicity moderated these associations. Data were collected from the 2013 Minnesota Student Survey, comprising a sample of 29,345 from 8^th, 9^th, and 11^th grades. Logistic regression investigated relationships between family structure and health variables. Adolescents in nuclear families reported better health outcomes in most models; odds of mental disabilities were 1.64 for single parent and 2.45 for other family structures. Significant effect modification was noted for all health outcomes; extended families were consistently protective for Hmong youth and offered some protection for Latino and Somali youth. Policies and programs that support parents and guardians are essential, and may be especially beneficial for ethnic minority youth in single‐parent, grandparent‐only, and other family structures.     

Cultural factors in help‐seeking for child behavior problems: Value orientation,affective responding,and severity appraisals among Chinese‐American parents

This study explored the relationships between cultural values, appraisal of child behavior problems, and associated help‐seeking intentions among Chinese‐American parents. Questionnaires were administered to 120 Chinese‐American parents of elementary‐school‐aged children. Parents were asked how they might respond if their child displayed the behavioral problems depicted in a hypothetical vignette. Influences of Chinese value orientation, severity appraisal, and affective reactions on help‐seeking intentions were examined using regression analyses and structural equation modeling. The study examined three hypotheses regarding the nature of the influence of cultural value orientation on help‐seeking intentions: (a) a direct effect model, (b) an indirect effect through cultural differences in severity appraisal, and (c) an indirect effect through cultural differences in affective responding. Results supported the hypothesis that cultural value orientation exerted an indirect effect on help‐seeking intentions through its influence on affective responding. Those parents who had more traditional Chinese values responded with more feelings of shame to child behavior problems and, in turn, reported lower intentions to seek help. Findings are discussed with reference to the literature on help‐seeking among Asian Americans. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Relationships among perceptions of parent involvement,time allocation,and demographic characteristics: Implication for policy formation

Variables that facilitate or hinder parent involvement (PI) in education and schools were explored, along with the amounts of time parents spent in various activities. A total of 506 participants from San Diego and Imperial Counties completed the first part of the study (1) designed to assess parents' beliefs about involvement with their child's school and education. Of these same participants, 357 self‐selected parents also chose to complete a second part of the study (2) that assessed the amount of time parents spend in education‐related activities. Factor analysis of the 506 participant responses revealed four school perception factors related to parent attitudes: (a) communication, (b) familiarity, (c) sensitivity, and (d) support. Factor analysis of the 357 participant responses to the time factors also revealed four involvement areas: (a) general school issues, (b) specific school issues, (c) extracurricular school activities, and (d) specific help. Significant relationships were found among three of the attitudinal factors (sensitivity, familiarity, and support) and various time factors, including total involvement time, general issues, specific problems, and extracurricular issues. Further, significant differences among means were found for both the school perception factors and the time factors based on ethnic background, income, and marital status. Recommendations for increasing parent involvement and formulating public policy are discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Promoting resiliency in children of mothers with co‐occurring disorders and histories of trauma: Impact of a skills‐based intervention program on child outcomes

Using a quasi‐experimental design, this study examined the effectiveness of a standardized intervention model designed to build resiliency in children of women with co‐occurring mental health and substance use disorders and histories of interpersonal abuse. The children and mothers who participated in this study were a subset of the sample used for the Women, Co‐occurring Disorders and Violence Study (WCDVS). The children's intervention model consisted of three components: clinical assessment, service coordination and advocacy, and a psychoeducational skills‐building group. Children in the comparison group received individual, group, and family services. Six‐month and 12‐month outcomes were examined among 253 children. Children in the intervention group improved significantly more than children in the comparison group. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 35: 823–843, 2007.     

自闭症儿童父母心理复原力、自我和谐与主观幸福感

目的:探讨自闭症儿童父母的心理复原力、自我和谐及主观幸福感之间的关系。方法:采用心理复原力量表、自我和谐量表和主观幸福感量表对122名自闭症儿童父母和327名一般儿童父母进行测量。结果:自闭症儿童父母的心理复原力(t=-4.59,P0.05)、自我和谐(t=8.30,P0.001)和主观幸福感水平(t=-5.90,P0.001)均显著低于一般儿童父母;心理复原力与主观幸福感正相关显著,而自我和谐与心理复原力、主观幸福感均为显著负相关(r=-0.47,-0.51;P0.01);自我和谐均在自闭症儿童父母和一般儿童父母的心理复原力与主观幸福感中起部分中介作用,但自闭症儿童父母的中介作用更为显著。结论:提升自闭症儿童父母的主观幸福感,其心理复原力和自我和谐是不可忽视的重要因素。     

Using community and family risk and protective factors for community‐based prevention planning

Research has identified risk and protective factors related to adolescent substance use using individual‐level data, but it is uncertain whether or not these relationships exist when data are aggregated to a community level. Using data from adolescents in 41 communities, this article found that most community and family risk and protective factors, measured at the community level, predicted student prevalences of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use 2 years later, whether using information from the same or different groups of students, although the predictive power was stronger within cohorts. The findings support community‐level prevention planning that uses epidemiological information on levels of community and family risk and protective factors to identify areas of elevated risk and low protection to be targeted for community‐based preventive interventions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 35: 535–555, 2007.     

INVOLVING PARENTS IN A COMMUNITY‐BASED,CULTURALLY GROUNDED MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION FOR AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH: PARENT PERSPECTIVES,CHALLENGES, AND RESULTS

An important predictor of youth well‐being and resilience is the presence of nurturing adults in a youth's life. Parents are ideally situated to fulfill this role but often face challenges and stressors that impede their ability to provide adequate support and guidance. American Indian parents may also be affected by intergenerational transmission of trauma and loss of traditional parenting practices, as a result of forced boarding school and/or relocation. Members of a community‐university partnership sought to interrupt cycles of violence and poor mental health of youth through a culturally‐grounded intervention for youth and their parents that focused on healing historical trauma, strengthening positive parenting practices and social skills, reconnecting to traditional cultural knowledge, and improving parent‐child relationships/communication. This article describes parental involvement and its challenges and provides mixed‐method results for 10 parents related to enculturation, parenting practices, parent‐child communication, family cohesion, historical loss and associated symptoms, and community involvement.     

Parental resilience: A neglected construct in resilience research

The substantial focus of resilience research on childhood well‐being has resulted in limited knowledge regarding other aspects of resilience in families, such as that of parents. Informed by literature in childhood and family resilience, in this review, we progress conceptual understanding by focusing on parental resilience. The definition of parental resilience, as the capacity of parents to deliver a competent and quality level of parenting to children despite the presence of risk factors, is offered here as a worthwhile framework through which to explore variables thought to contribute to resilience among parents. A conceptual model is proposed whereby parental psychological well‐being and self‐efficacy, family functioning, and social connectedness are specifically addressed, with each posited as playing an important role in parents’ ability to deliver high‐quality parenting. In addition to these factors, how parents accommodate adversity and find meaning in their everyday lives within their families is hypothesised to be an important process in understanding parental resilience.     

Protective associations of importance of religion and frequency of service attendance with depression risk, suicidal behaviours and substance use in adolescents in Nova Scotia, Canada

Purpose

We examined relationships of measures of personal importance of religion and frequency of attendance at religious services with risk of depression and risk behaviours in high school students in Cape Breton, Canada. We examined the impact of confounding and explanatory factors on these relationships.

Methods

Data were drawn from self-report surveys of adolescents aged 15-19 (N = 1615) at three high schools in May, 2006. We used logistic regression to assess associations of religious importance and religious service attendance with risk of depression, suicidal behaviour, binge drinking and frequent marijuana use, controlling in multivariate models for sociodemographic factors, family structure and social capital.

Results

Among females, higher personal importance of religion was associated with decreased odds of depression, suicidal ideation, drinking and marijuana use, while more religious attendance was protective for substance use behaviours and suicidal ideation. In males, both measures of religiosity were associated with decreased substance use. In multivariate models, religious importance had weak protective effects for depression and suicidal thinking in females, which were respectively modified by social trust and substance use. Attendance was protective for suicidal thinking in females, and was modified by depression. These associations were not seen in males. Attendance was consistently associated with less substance use in females, while importance was not. Importance was consistently protective for marijuana use and attendance was protective for binge drinking in males.

Limitations

This was a cross-sectional self-report survey and causality cannot be inferred.

Conclusion

Protective associations of measures of religiosity are seen in Canadian adolescents, as they are elsewhere.     

PATTERNS OF RISK AND RESILIENCE IN AFRICAN AMERICAN AND LATINO YOUTH

The present study identified subgroups of adolescents with distinctive patterns of risk and protective factors in early adolescence and examined the psychosocial adjustment of these subgroups in middle to late adolescence. A total of 930 low‐income African American and Latino adolescents were surveyed as a part of the Welfare, Children & Families: A Three City Study. Three clusters of risk and protective variables were identified at 10–14 years of age; one cluster was high on protective factors, one high on risk factors, and another mixed with protective factors and high community risk. Six years later, variable‐centered analyses demonstrated differences in delinquency, psychological distress, peer and romantic relationships, and sexual history between clusters. Individuals in the resilient and mixed clusters were the most similar overall, and demonstrated significantly more positive outcomes than their risk‐cluster peers. Findings illustrate how the integration of person‐ and variable‐focused approaches provides more information about the developmental outcomes of youth in investigations of resilience.     

PREVENTING SUBSTANCE USE AMONG NATIVE AMERICAN EARLY ADOLESCENTS

The overall objective of this study was to examine the effects of an innovative culturally appropriate school‐based intervention. Cherokee Talking Circle (CTC), for the prevention of substance use among 100 Keetoowah‐Cherokee 6th graders as they transition to middle school. The impact of the CTC on substance use involvement (measured by the Global Assessment of Individual Needs – Quick) and Cherokee self‐reliance (measured by the Cherokee Self‐Reliance Questionnaire) was assessed using a two‐condition quasi‐experimental design, comparing the CTC to standard substance use education (SE). Findings from this study suggest that prevention from a cultural perspective is an obvious course of action against substance use among Native American early adolescents.     

Effectiveness of an integrated,trauma‐informed approach to treating women with co‐occurring disorders and histories of trauma: The Los Angeles site experience

Effectiveness of an integrated trauma‐informed approach to treating women with co‐occurring disorders and histories of trauma was evaluated. Baseline and 12‐month assessments were completed by 136 intervention‐ and 177 comparison‐group women. The intervention group received Seeking Safety, a trauma‐specific group treatment focusing on safety and coping skills, in the context of integrated substance abuse and mental health services. The comparison group received similar services but not trauma‐specific group treatment. Intervention women showed significantly better treatment retention over three months and greater improvement on posttraumatic stress symptoms and coping skills. On most outcomes, those who completed treatment improved more than those who discontinued. Improvements on symptoms of distress and drug problem severity were partially mediated by gains in coping skills. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 35: 863–878, 2007.     

THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HIV STATUS AND HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS IN CARE

Veterans seeking care in the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System (VA) are more vulnerable to HIV infection and homelessness. However, there is little scholarship on the association between serostatus and homelessness among VA veterans. We examined this association in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study, a sample of 6,819 HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative veterans attending 8 VAs across the country. We utilized logistic models regressing shelter use in the last month on correlates. HIV and homelessness prevalence was higher than in general veteran populations. Being HIV‐positive was protective against homelessness. Substance use, hazardous alcohol use, depression, schizophrenia, and being African American and male increased risk of homelessness. HIV‐positive status reduced the homelessness risk posed by substance use, especially among African American substance users. However, women veterans with HIV were at higher risk of homelessness than noninfected women veterans. Implications for policies on veteran homelessness and housing for people with HIV are discussed.