Community, Neighborhood, and Peer Influence on Samoan-American Youths

ABSTRACT

This article examines the Samoan community, neighborhood, and peer groups as possible sources of risk and/or protection for delinquency among Samoan youths. Study participants include Samoan-American youths and parents living in one U.S. state. Data were collected via individual interviews of 30 Samoan adolescents, 15 of whom have been involved in the juvenile justice system. Results indicate that community involvement, neighborhood structures and practices, and peer groups may serve as sources of risk and/or protection for juvenile delinquency among these Samoan youths. A theory is proposed based on community, neighborhood, and peer group factors related to delinquency among these youths. Implications for future research and policy and practice specifically focusing on the lived experiences of Samoan-American youths in the United States are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Samoan community
• Samoan neighborhood
• Samoan peer groups
• Samoan youths and delinquency

This article is based on data from a study that was funded by the Asian/Pacific Islander Youth Violence Prevention Center (APIYVPC), an organization that is committed to reducing juvenile delinquency among the Pacific Islander population. The authors thank the Samoan youths and their parents for their willingness to candidly express their views about factors that may serve as either a risk for or protection from juvenile delinquency.