Caterina G. Roman

The relation of the perceived environment to fear, physical activity, and health in public housing developments: evidence from Chicago.

Within the realm of active living in urban neighborhoods in the United States, only a few studies have addressed the factors that promote or inhibit active living among residents in public housing. This paper examines the environmental and interpersonal factors associated with active living and health in public housing. We specifically examine the environmental predictors of fear of crime, and whether fear is related to moderate physical activity, and in turn, health and obesity. The analysis drew upon data from a sample of 328 African-American residents living in two severely distressed public housing developments in 2007. Structural equation modeling was used to calculate a path model of direct and indirect effects. Perceptions of violence were positively associated with fear, and both fear and physical activity predicted health. However, neither fear nor physical activity was associated with obesity. We discuss the implications of these findings for improving the quality of life of disadvantaged residents living in high-crime neighborhoods.

Cure violence: a public health model to reduce gun violence

Scholars and practitioners alike in recent years have suggested that real and lasting progress in the fight against gun violence requires changing the social norms and attitudes that perpetuate violence and the use of guns. The Cure Violence model is a public health approach to gun violence reduction that seeks to change individual and community attitudes and norms about gun violence. It considers gun violence to be analogous to a communicable disease that passes from person to person when left untreated. Cure Violence operates independently of, while hopefully not undermining, law enforcement. In this article, we describe the theoretical basis for the program, review existing program evaluations, identify several challenges facing evaluators, and offer directions for future research.

A multilevel assessment of school climate, bullying victimization, and physical activity.

BACKGROUNDnThis study integrated criminological and public health perspectives to examine the influence of bullying victimization and the school environment on physical activity (PA).nnnMETHODSnWe used a weighted sample of 7786 US middle school students surveyed as part of the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children study to conduct a multilevel analysis of bullying victimization as a predictor of self-reported PA and number of days attending physical education (PE) classes. Hierarchical models assessed the contribution of school climate and anti-crime programs.nnnRESULTSnResults indicated that bullying victimization was associated with fewer days in PE and lower odds of reporting at least 60u2009minutes of PA more than once a week. Although one of the school crime prevention policies examined was associated with more days in PE, the school-level factors did not account for a large portion of the variance in the 2-level models for either days in PE or PA.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe results suggest that reduced levels of PA can be added to the growing list of health issues associated with bullying victimization and provide support for the importance of bullying prevention efforts in conjunction with health promotion programs targeted to middle school students.

“I Was Born in the Hood”: Fear of Crime, Outdoor Recreation and Physical Activity Among Mexican-American Urban Adolescents

The study examines how perceptions of crime affect outdoor recreation and physical activity among Mexican-American youth of different ages and how Mexican-American youth negotiate constraints related to fear of crime. Theories of environmental stress and human territorial functioning theory are used to frame the findings of the study. In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 Mexican-American adolescents ages 11–18 residing in Chicago, Illinois. The findings show that crime prevents youth from visiting parks or places that require crossing gang boundaries, and that fear restricts participation in outdoor recreation. Activities that take place in the vicinity of homes and on school property during school hours, as well as activities that are organized and supervised by adults, are considered safer than unorganized and unsupervised activities. Adolescents use negotiation strategies to foster their participation in outdoor recreation and physical activity.

Crime, physical activity and outdoor recreation among Latino adolescents in Chicago

PURPOSEnThe purpose was to examine how fear of crime, crime victimization, and perceived level of community incivilities are related to physical activity participation and outdoor recreation among Latino adolescents.nnnMETHODnThe study utilized a mixed methods approach that included 25 qualitative interviews and 390 school-based surveys collected from youth across three schools in Little Village, Chicago, Illinois.nnnRESULTSnResults showed that Latino adolescents who expressed greater fear of crime also engaged in less physical activity and outdoor recreation. There was no association between crime victimization and physical activity and outdoor recreation. Those who perceived greater levels of community incivilities also engaged in less outdoor recreation, but perception of incivilities had no significant association with physical activity levels. Interview data revealed most of the children believed crime was a serious problem in their neighborhood and it impacted their ability to be physically active and play outside.nnnCONCLUSIONSnFear of crime was related to lower physical activity and outdoor recreation. It is imperative that communities provide safe environments for children to be active. Increasing police and adult presence in parks and school grounds is recommended. Moreover, efforts must be made to reduce the gang problems in Latino communities.

Parental and Adolescent Perceptions of Neighborhood Safety Related to Adolescents' Physical Activity in Their Neighborhood

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between adolescent and parental perceptions of neighborhood safety and adolescents physical activity in multiple locations and to investigate the moderating effect of sex within this association. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 928 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years old and 1 of their parents. Adolescents and parents reported their perceptions of neighborhood safety (traffic safety, pedestrian safety, crime safety, and stranger danger safety). Adolescents reported how often they were physically active in multiple locations (physical activity in the neighborhood, in parks, and for active transport). Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to investigate these associations while controlling for demographics and the Walkability Index. Results: Parent-perceived crime safety was positively associated with adolescents physical activity in parks (B = .094, p = .024). Parent-perceived traffic safety was positively associated with adolescents reported physical activity in the neighborhood (B = .186, p = .014). Adolescents physical activity for active transport was positively associated with parent-perceived traffic safety (B = .179, p = .001), stranger danger safety (B = .110, p = .013), and crime safety (B = .077, p = .035). There were 2 interactions by sex on the relation between adolescent traffic safety perception and parent pedestrian safety perception in the neighborhood and adolescents physical activity in parks (i.e., statistically significant only for boys). Conclusions: Parents perceptions of traffic, stranger danger, and crime safety were all related to adolescents active transportation. Multiple safety concerns may be motivating parents to restrict adolescent mobility by walking and bicycling.

Assessing youth motivations for joining a peer group as risk factors for delinquent and gang behavior

This article expands upon the limited literature on the relationship between youth motivations for joining a peer group and delinquent behavior. Using network survey data from 200 youth who self-identified as group members, we conducted factor analysis to develop measures of motivation to join a group, and then describe these motivations and the differences between delinquent and nondelinquent group members. Using negative binomial and binary logistic regression models, we examined the relationship between these motivations and delinquent behavior. The results indicated that youth who join a group for instrumental purposes exhibit more delinquent behavior than those who do not, while joining a group for reasons associated with filling a void and/or belonging has a weaker relationship to delinquency. The findings suggested that certain motivations for joining groups could serve as important risk factors that could be targeted by agencies and organizations seeking to prevent youth delinquent and gang behavior.

Community Reintegration Among Prisoners With Child Support Obligations An Examination of Debt, Needs, and Service Receipt

In line with emerging work on the role of fatherhood in prisoner reentry, this study directs attention to the financial obligations that connect fathers to their families in reentry. Specifically, the study provides a descriptive picture of soon-to-be-released male state prisoners with child support obligations using a multi-state, longitudinal dataset, and examines whether characteristics of incarcerated men with child support orders and associated debt are significantly different from incarcerated males without child support orders. Whether males attached to comprehensive reentry programs received more services related to their debt obligation after prison release compared with non-program participants is also analyzed. Findings show that although prisoners identify having substantial needs vis-à-vis child support obligations, few reported receiving assistance related to these needs upon release. However, reentry program participants received significantly more child support–related services than non-program participants. Implications for community services and support for returning prisoners with child support orders and related needs are discussed.

Pathways to Outdoor Recreation, Physical Activity, and Delinquency Among Urban Latino Adolescents

BackgroundLittle is known about how physical activity and various high-risk behaviors of youth are associated, particularly in disadvantaged, minority neighborhoods.PurposeWe examine whether fear, victimization, and perceived incivilities are associated with physical activity and outdoor recreation among Latino youth and whether involvement in physical activity is associated with delinquency.MethodsPath models were assessed using data collected from school-based surveys of 390 youth across 3 schools in Chicago, Illinois.ResultsFear was associated with low levels of physical activity and outdoor recreation, while incivilities were associated with reduced levels of outdoor recreation but not physical activity. Outdoor recreation exhibited a positive association with delinquency. Some effects differed by gender.ConclusionsThe findings reinforce considering different interventions to encourage physical activity and outdoor recreation for girls versus boys, and thinking comprehensively about lowering the risk for delinquency when encouraging outdoor recreation.

Street Gang Definitions Across Two US Cities: Eurogang Criteria, Group Identity Characteristics, and Peer Group Involvement in Crime

Given the relatively recent adoption of the Eurogang consensus-based definition of street gangs by many academics, the current study seeks to add to the nascent body of research describing the results of this definitional approach by examining the characteristics of youth who meet the Eurogang criteria and those who do not across a sample of street-oriented delinquent youth in two East Coast cities in the United States. The study’s methodological framework—using a community-recruited sample to study the personal networks of street gang members in two cities—provides a unique opportunity to examine aspects of the Eurogang definition. The study examines whether there are particular gang processes and gang embeddedness characteristics that distinguish youth who meet the “illegal group identity” criteria of the Eurogang definition from those who do not. In multivariate analyses, youth reporting that they claim a territory have greater odds of meeting the illegal gang identity criteria; however, there are a number of youth who do not meet these criteria, yet belong to groups that claim territory. The implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed.