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Abstract
We examined several risk and resilience factors associated with sexual intercourse, gang involvement, and alcohol and drug use among 332 urban, culturally diverse adolescents aged 12 to 16 years. In general, different patterns of risk and resilience factors were found to predict the three problem behaviors. Delinquency was the only factor that was significantly linked to sexual intercourse, gang involvement, and substance use. Discriminant analyses substantiated that delinquency was differentially associated with low problem vs. high problem urban adolescents. In addition, when compared to the high problem urban youth, the resilient youth tended to have higher academic competence and intact two-parent families and were less likely to be involved in a steady relationship. The results support an ecological, multidimensional approach to understanding problem behaviors in urban adolescents. Prevention and intervention approaches based on the study's findings are discussed.
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Notes on contributors
Karen Callan Stoiber
Karen Callan Stoiber, PhD, is Associate Professor and Director, School Psychology Program, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her research interests include adolescent pregnancy and parenting, adolescent risk behaviors, inclusion, group interventions, and education reform. She is a member of several task forces related to school restructuring and special education.
Barbara Good
Barbara J. Good, MS, is a doctoral student in the School Psychology Program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her research interests focus on promoting social competence and resiliency among adolescents in urban schools.