Anastasia S. Vogt Yuan

Perceived Age Discrimination and Mental Health.

Although perceived discrimination (especially due to race-ethnicity) decreases mental health, the influence of perceived discrimination due to other reasons on mental health needs to be explored. This study examines the relationship between perceived age discrimination and mental health and determines whether psychosocial resources explain or buffer (i.e., reduce the strength of) this relationship. Using a nationally-representative sample of persons aged 25-74 from the Midlife Development in the United States survey, this study finds that perceived age discrimination is associated with higher psychological distress and lower positive well-being. Perceived age discrimination is more negatively associated with womens mental health than mens. Although sense of control buffers the relationship between perceived age discrimination and psychological distress, perceived age discrimination decreases sense of control and social support.

Stepfather Involvement and Adolescent Well-Being Do Mothers and Nonresidential Fathers Matter?

Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the authors explore how aspects of stepfather involvement are related to adolescent well-being and whether these relationships depend on maternal involvement, non-residential father involvement, or amount of time in the household. Results indicate that a close, nonconflictual stepfather-stepchild relationship improves adolescent well-being, but it is most beneficial when the adolescent also has a close, nonconflictual mother-child relationship. Engaging in shared activities with the stepfather decreases depression when the stepfather has been in the household for a longer period of time. The relationships between stepfather involvement and adolescent well-being are separate from nonresidential father involvement.

Body Perceptions, Weight Control Behavior, and Changes in Adolescents’ Psychological Well-Being Over Time: A Longitudinal Examination of Gender

This study used the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to explore gender differences in the relationship between body perceptions and behavior and changes in adolescents’ psychological well-being over a one-year time period. The sample included 12,814 adolescents (51% girls) aged 11–20 comprised of 68% Non-Hispanic White, 15% African American, 12% Hispanic, and 4% Asian. Perceptions of being larger or more developed generally decreased girls’ psychological well-being over time. Body perceptions and behavior did not significantly influence changes in boys’ psychological well-being over time. Non-Hispanic White girls were the most influenced and Non-Hispanic White boys were the least influenced by body perceptions and behavior. Perceived relative development influenced early adolescent girls, whereas perceptions of being overweight influenced middle to late adolescent girls. Additionally, trying to lose weight influenced middle adolescent boys and girls. These results imply that body perceptions and behavior disadvantage girls’ psychological well-being relative to boys during adolescence.

Gender Differences in the Relationship of Puberty with Adolescents’ Depressive Symptoms: Do Body Perceptions Matter?

This study explored how pubertal status is related to depressive symptoms among adolescent boys and girls and whether body perceptions explained this relationship. This study is based on a national random US sample of adolescents from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (9,011 girls and 8,781 boys). Results showed that boys and girls responded differently to puberty. During the transition to puberty boys had higher depressive symptoms than post-pubertal boys, due to perceptions that they were not as physically large and developed as their peers. Pre-pubertal and post-pubertal boys did not significantly differ on depressive symptoms. Post-pubertal girls had higher depressive symptoms than pre-pubertal girls, due to perceptions that they were overweight and more physically developed than their peers.

RACIAL COMPOSITION OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

Is living in a higher percentage same-race neighborhood beneficial for emotional well-being? This study explores this relationship for Blacks and Hispanics and examines whether social support explains this relationship using a random sample of Illinois residents. Living in a higher percentage same-race neighborhood improves the emotional well-being of Blacks and Hispanics; although, it is related to different aspects of emotional well-being. Social support explains part of this relationship for Blacks. The implication of this study is that neighborhoods confer not only economic resources to their residents, but social and emotional resources as well.Is living in a higher percentage same-race neighborhood beneficial for emotional well-being? This study explores this relationship for Blacks and Hispanics and examines whether social support explains this relationship using a random sample of Illinois residents. Living in a higher percentage same-race neighborhood improves the emotional well-being of Blacks and Hispanics; although, it is related to different aspects of emotional well-being. Social support explains part of this relationship for Blacks. The implication of this study is that neighborhoods confer not only economic resources to their residents, but social and emotional resources as well.

BLACK-WHITE DIFFERENCES IN AGING OUT OF SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE

Blacks have lower rates of substance use and abuse than whites in early adolescence and young adulthood but similar or higher rates by middle adulthood, which could be due to blacks being less likely to age (i.e., mature) out of deviance than whites by transitioning into high-quality conventional social roles. Using the National Comorbidity Survey (1990–1992), this study finds that work, economic conditions, and family roles explain the race-by-age crossover for drug abuse and explain most of this relationship for alcohol use and abuse. There is no race-by-age crossover for drug use. Thus, even though blacks have lower substance use and abuse than whites at younger ages, this advantage is eliminated and even reversed due to the disadvantages blacks face over the life course.Blacks have lower rates of substance use and abuse than whites in early adolescence and young adulthood but similar or higher rates by middle adulthood, which could be due to blacks being less likely to age (i.e., mature) out of deviance than whites by transitioning into high-quality conventional social roles. Using the National Comorbidity Survey (1990–1992), this study finds that work, economic conditions, and family roles explain the race-by-age crossover for drug abuse and explain most of this relationship for alcohol use and abuse. There is no race-by-age crossover for drug use. Thus, even though blacks have lower substance use and abuse than whites at younger ages, this advantage is eliminated and even reversed due to the disadvantages blacks face over the life course.

Father–Child Relationships and Nonresident Fathers’ Psychological Distress What Helps and What Hurts?

Nonresident fathers have been shown to have much higher psychological distress than married parents with rates similar to or higher than those of single mothers. This study explores how aspects of the father–child relationship influence nonresident fathers’ psychological distress using the 1997 Child Development Supplement of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Using a structural equation model, this study finds that, other than being married, only father–child relationship quality has a direct influence on nonresident fathers’ psychological distress. Conflict with the mother, talking to the child, and the salience of the fatherhood role all influence psychological distress indirectly through father–child relationship quality.