A Social Development Model of Serious Delinquency: Examining Gender Differences

This study offers a critical review and analysis of the Social Development Model (SDM) and social control theory in delinquency. In particular, this study examines one major aspect of the SDM, social control theory, through an empirical examination of a large (self-report) data set. Results of this study show that attachment and commitment to parents, school, and peers is associated with delinquency for both boys and girls. In terms of gender, parental attachment and commitment play a stronger role in female delinquency, while alienation plays a stronger role in male delinquency.     

Reducing Adolescents' Growth in Substance Use and Delinquency: Randomized Trial Effects of a Parent-Training Prevention Intervention

The relationship between growth in adolescent substance use and delinquency was examined in a longitudinal, randomized controlled study of the Preparing for the Drug Free Years Program (PDFY), a universal family-focused prevention intervention. Latent growth curve modeling was used to analyze 5 waves of data collected from 429 rural adolescents. Results showed that adolescents assigned to the PDFY intervention condition had a slower rate of linear increase over time in both substance use and delinquency compared with adolescents assigned to the control condition. Moreover, pretest level of delinquency was a reliable, positive predictor of growth in substance use, whereas pretest level of substance use did not predict growth in delinquency.     

From Early Childhood to Adolescence: Linking Family Functioning and School Behavior

The present study uses observational assessment of 66 two-parent families working and playing together when their eldest child is in kindergarten and again in 9(th) grade to identify distinct patterns of family functioning derived from structural family systems theory. Whereas concurrent assessment of the relationship between family type and adolescents' school behavior were not significant, significant prospective longitudinal relationships between family type assessed in early childhood and 9(th) grade school behavior were indicated. Kindergarteners whose families were primarily characterized by a strong mother-child alliance were less academically competent, more aggressive/inattentive, and more anxious/depressed/withdrawn at school nine years later when they were in 9(th) grade, than their peers in more cohesive or father-child allied families.     

青少年抑郁症发病因素与家庭治疗的研究

抑郁症严重影响青少年的健康成长,究其发病原因复杂多样,主要有遗传因素、自身因素、家庭因素。其中家庭因素的作用不容忽视。家庭治疗作为青少年抑郁症的一种治疗方法是可行且有独特优势的。本文将国内对青少年抑郁症发病因素与家庭治疗进行研究,并提出了评析和展望。     

Toward a Model of Adolescent Empowerment: Theoretical and Empirical Evidence

Empowering adolescents can serve as a preventive intervention for many of the problems that confront this population. While much of the literature on empowerment has focused on adults, this paper offers a model of empowerment for adolescents that draws from appropriate developmental theory, bonding and social control theory, and rolelessness. Literature that supports the adolescent empowerment model is reviewed. Popular interventions and activities are assessed using their empowerment potential as a yardstick. Common features that are consistent with the adolescent empowerment model are identified; and future directions for research are discussed.     

Parental Support,Psychological Control,and Early Adolescents' Relationships with Friends and Dating Partners

Interdependence and social exchange theories were used to explore parent–adolescent relationship quality and early adolescents' relationships with close friends and dating partners. Associations among adolescents' perceptions of parental support and psychological control, peer relationship experiences (communication, emotional support, and possessiveness), and peer relationship satisfaction were examined using a test‐replication design. Our largely African American and female samples ranged from age 11 to 15. Results indicated the parenting variables were directly related to peer relationship experiences, which, in turn, predicted relationship satisfaction. The association between parental support and relationship satisfaction was mediated by peer communication and emotional support. Limited moderation by gender and relationship type was found. Parental psychological control mattered more for female and parental support more for male adolescents' close peer relationships. Dating partner possessiveness was most detrimental for females' relationship satisfaction, whereas communication influenced relationship satisfaction most for females reporting on friends and males reporting on dating partners.     

The Influence of Family Functioning and Parent‐Adolescent Acculturation on North American Chinese Adolescent Outcomes

Abstract: The present study investigated the associations between family functioning, acculturation between parents and their adolescents, and adolescent adjustment problems. Chinese adolescents and their parents (N= 41) living in the United States and Canada participated in this study. Results showed that differences in acculturation between parents and adolescents were related to adolescent depression and that family functioning was related to both depression and delinquency. Both parental and adolescent acculturation levels and their differences were important in predicting adolescent outcomes. Implications for conducting family therapy and parent education with Chinese North American adolescents and their parents are discussed.     

Family Functioning and Adolescent Help‐Seeking Behavior*

Data from 196 adolescents were used to examine the relationship between help‐seeking behavior and family functioning. Results indicated that half sought help for their problem, and problem type was not associated with help‐seeking behavior. Adolescents clustered into 2 groups of families—1 high in conflict and low in democratic parenting style and 1 low in conflict and high in democratic parenting style. Complex relationships between help‐seeking behavior, type of family, and type of problem were found.     

Self‐Injury Among Early Adolescents: Identifying Segments Protected and at Risk*

BACKGROUND: Self‐injury has been described as a “silent school crisis,” reflecting insufficient knowledge, confusion, lack of effective interventions, and the tendency for adults and youth to shy away from dealing directly with the issue. This purpose of this study was to identify distinct subgroups of youth who may be at increased risk of or reduced risk of nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI). METHODS: The middle‐school Youth Risk Behavior Survey was administered in 8 district public middle schools in a large, southeastern county in Florida. A final sample size of 1748, representing approximately 92% of participants who self‐reported attendance at 1 of the 8 middle schools (N = 1907) and 74% of the 2350 surveys originally distributed, was used in this study. Chi‐squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID) was used to identify distinct segments at risk for or protected from NSSI. RESULTS: CHAID analyses suggested large groups of youth at risk for (and not at risk) having ever tried self‐injury including suicidal tendencies, substance use, low belief in life possibilities, and exposure to peer self‐injury. Protective factors identified included having low to zero levels of suicidal tendencies, high belief in life possibilities, lack of substance use, and not being a victim of bullying. CONCLUSION: Engaging adolescents in prevention programs at early stage can reduce the chances of suicidal behavior as well as physical injury. Schools should take the lead in advocating for the development of evidence‐based interventions that are capable of addressing factors that contribute to self‐injury at multiple levels of youth's environments.     

医疗风险预警及控制机制探讨

目前我国医疗纠纷及其伤医事件频发,医疗风险预警及控制机制的不健全、医患沟通不畅及信任危机是造成这种冲突的主要原因.通过对医疗风险预警及控制机制的研究,为政府和医疗机构在减少医疗风险的发生上提供干预措施和参考依据.     

Family Mediators of the Relation Between Acculturation and Adolescent Mental Health*

Abstract: This study of 175 Mexican‐origin families examined a mediational model linking the linguistic acculturation of mothers and adolescents with a wide array of family mediators and adolescent mental health outcomes. Family linguistic acculturation, a latent construct based on maternal and adolescent acculturation, was positively related to increased family and interparental conflict but was not related to maternal parenting practices. Family conflict mediated the link between acculturation and two adolescent outcomes, conduct problems and depressive symptoms. Family acculturation showed a complex pattern of positive, indirect (mediated) and negative, direct effects on adolescent depressive symptoms. Findings are discussed in relation to traditional cultural values of Mexican heritage families and prevailing theories about why more acculturated Mexican‐origin youth are at increased risk for problem behaviors.     

Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy Expeditions: An Exploratory Case Study of Adolescent Wilderness Therapy, Family Functioning, and the Maintenance of Change

This exploratory longitudinal case study aimed to identify practical adolescent and family outcomes following participation in a 21-day wilderness therapy program for adolescents with emotional, behavioral, and substance use problems. Results showed gender differences in presenting issues pre-treatment, significant positive changes assessed two-months post-treatment in family functioning, and adolescent behavior and mental health issues. Twelve-month assessments showed maintenance of positive outcomes coupled with deterioration in some aspects of family functioning and drug and alcohol use. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

健康危险行为及家庭环境因素对青少年饮酒行为的影响

目的了解天津市青少年饮酒行为现况,探讨青少年饮酒行为的发生与其他易成瘾习惯和家庭环境因素的相关性,以采取对策减少中学生的饮酒率。方法采用分层随机抽样的方法在4个区分别抽取重点和普通中学各1所,分别选取3个年级的2个班学生进行不记名自填式调查,采用SPSS11.5统计软件数据分析。结果天津市青少年总饮酒率为32.59%,男生饮酒率是女生的2倍,且随着年龄、年级的增长饮酒率逐渐升高,学生的上学期平均成绩、赌博、上网、早恋、吸毒等因素与饮酒行为有关联,父母教育方式严厉和给零用钱多是饮酒行为的危险因素。结论儿少卫生和学校卫生工作者加强对教师和家长的指导,提高他们的教育水平,形成良好的教育环境,有助于帮助青少年形成良好的生活习惯,减少饮酒等易成瘾性行为的产生。     

Rethinking Family Development Theory: Teaching With the Systemic Family Development (SFD) Model

Although family development theory has made significant contributions to the field of family studies, virtually all of the models based on this theory are fraught with two fundamental conceptual weaknesses: the assumption of universality and the skew toward a single generational focus. The Systemic Family Developmental (SFD) Model is presented here as a process‐oriented and holistic alternative to existing models of family developmental theory. Following the presentation of a case example that demonstrates how the SFD Model can be used to study an actual family, detailed recommendations are provided for the use of the Model in undergraduate family development and family studies courses.     

A Comprehensive Report of Child Care Providers' Perceptions of a Statewide Early Care and Education Initiative

As the call to improve early care and education environments heightens across the United States, individual states have developed an array of approaches to enhance out-of-home care experiences for young children. As a part of the larger evaluation study of Kentucky's early childhood initiative, KIDS NOW, the current study gains perspectives from child care providers regarding their experiences with a comprehensive statewide early care and education initiative. Through a series of focus groups, child care providers highlighted their need for adequate information regarding the initiative as well as their varying perceptions of different types of initiative components. These findings highlight the need for continual stakeholder involvement as policy changes unfold within a state. Additionally, providers' perspectives on the implementation of the initiative underscore the complexity inherent to affecting change in early care and education.     

Family Cohesion Moderates the Relation Between Free Testosterone and Delinquent Behaviors in Adolescent Boys and Girls

PurposeThis study examined the associations of free testosterone and family environment with delinquent and aggressive behaviors among adolescent boys and girls with elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL)–cholesterol levels.MethodsParticipants were 164 boys and 180 girls 11–14 years of age. The female parent provided ratings of family cohesion and of child aggressive and delinquent behaviors. Tanner ratings of pubertal development were obtained during physical examination, and a blood sample was drawn for assessment of serum levels of free testosterone.ResultsHierarchical regression analyses revealed significant two-way interactions of free testosterone and family cohesion on delinquent behaviors among adolescent boys and girls. Specifically, under conditions of low family cohesion, free testosterone was positively associated with delinquent behaviors among boys, whereas in families with high cohesion no association between free testosterone and delinquent behavior was observed. In contrast, free testosterone was negatively associated with delinquent behaviors among adolescent girls in low-cohesion families. For girls, family cohesion was negatively associated with aggressive behaviors; for boys, LDL-C was positively associated with aggressive behaviors.ConclusionsChild gender and family environment factors appear to modify the associations between free testosterone and delinquent behaviors in adolescent boys and girls.     

Adolescent Sexuality and Parent‐Adolescent Processes: Promoting Healthy Teen Choices*

Trends in adolescent sexual health, the relation between parenting and adolescent sexual outcomes, and adolescent sexuality interventions with a parent component are reviewed. American adolescents have higher rates of unprotected sex and STI contraction than adults and nine times the teen pregnancy rate of their European counterparts. Parenting efforts are related to adolescent sexual behavior. The review of 19 relevant programs supports the incorporation of theory and the ecological model in program design and evaluation.     

家庭因素对青少年婚前性行为及危险性行为的影响

目的:探索家庭因素对未婚青少年首次性行为以及危险性行为的影响。方法:采用多阶段抽样方法抽取上海市15～24岁青少年进行匿名电子问卷调查。结果:调查的6023名未婚青少年中12.7%有过性行为(男16.8%、女8.7%),其中首次性行为发生在≤18岁、首次性行为未使用安全措施、有过商业性行为、与陌生人、与吸毒人员发生过性行为的比例分别为29.9%、55.2%、4.3%、12.2%和0.5%;多因素分析结果显示,出生年代越早、与父母同住、青春期早期家庭支持评分较高及父母反对婚前性行为的青少年发生婚前性行为的可能性和危险性行为评分均较低;家庭因素对性行为的影响存在性别差异,女性性行为的发生受家庭因素的影响比较大,而男性更多地受人口学特征的影响。结论:青少年婚前性行为的发生趋于年轻化。家庭因素可能影响青少年的婚前性行为及危险性行为的发生,并且这种影响作用存在性别差异。