Daniel F. Perkins

An ecological, risk-factor examination of adolescents' sexual activity in three ethnic groups

DANIEL F. PERKINS University of Florida This study examines the extent to which the ecological, risk-factor approach for studying sexual activity in samples of mostly European Americans is useful for explaining adolescent sexual activity in three ethnic groups. We hypothesized that as exposure to risk factors increased, so would the likelihood of sexual activity in all the ethnic groups. Ethnic and gender differences in the relationship between risk factors and sexual activity were also examined. We found significant risk factors at all three levels of the social ecology. There was little support for the notion that risk factors predicting sexual activity differ among the ethnic groups, although we found a few gender differences. The results of these analyses highlight similarities among the three ethnic groups. Key Words: adolescents, African Americans, ecological perspective, Latinos, risk factors, sexual activity. Small and Luster (1994) proposed an ecological, risk-factor model for understanding why some teens are sexually active and others are not. Central to this model is the concept of cumulative risk, which posits that as exposure to risk factors increases, the probability of becoming sexually active also increases. The model also proposes that the risks adolescents are exposed to can be organized into four categories representing different aspects of the adolescents ecology: (a) individual characteristics, such as low academic ability; (b) family factors, such as low levels of parental monitoring; (c) extrafamilial factors, such as low attachment to the school, living in economically distressed neighborhoods, and being pressured by peers to engage in risk-taking behaviors; and (d) macrosystem influences, such as cultural values, media messages about sexuality, and public policies to reduce rates of teenage pregnancies (Bronfenbrenner, 1979, 1989; Small & Luster, 1994). In a study with an ethnically diverse sample (51 % European American) from a community in the Southwestern United States, Small and Luster (1994) found initial support for this model. However, differences among ethnic groups were not examined in that study. Only 1% of female adolescents who were exposed to zero risk factors were sexually active, compared with 80% of those who were exposed to eight or more risk factors. Among male adolescents, 15% of those exposed to zero risk factors were sexually active, and 93% of those with scores of five or more risk factors were sexually active. A discriminant analysis showed that significant risk factors for sexual activity were found at all levels of the social ecology that were examined (i.e., individual, family, extrafamilial contexts) for both males and females. Similar results were obtained with a European American sample from Wisconsin (Small & Luster, 1990). This study utilizes Small and Lusters conceptual model to examine factors related to sexual activity among adolescents from three ethnic groups-African Americans, Latinos, and European Americans. Because the model has been tested primarily with samples of European American adolescents, of particular interest to us was the usefulness of this model for predicting sexual activity among African American and Latino adolescents. Also of interest was whether or not the same risk factors were associated with sexual activity in each of the three ethnic groups. Although the risk factors associated with sexual activity may be similar across ethnic groups, we were hesitant to assume, a priori, that no differences would be found in the predictors of sexual activity across ethnic groups, given the diverse experiences of different sociocultural groups in the U.S. Relatively little research has compared factors related to sexual activity across all three ethnic groups, and the research that has compared two or more of these three groups has not produced consistent results. Our particular interest in testing the ecological, risk-factor model on African American and Latino adolescents was prompted by a number of findings. …

Childhood and Adolescent Sports Participation as Predictors of Participation in Sports and Physical Fitness Activities During Young Adulthood

This study examined whether organized sports participation during childhood and adolescence was related to participation in sports and physical fitness activities in young adulthood. The data were from the Michigan Study of Adolescent Life Transitions. The analyses include more than 600 respondents from three waves of data (age 12, age 17, and age 25). Childhood and adolescent sports participation was found to be a significant predictor of young adults’ participation in sports and physical fitness activities.

An Ecological Risk-Factor Examination of Suicide Ideation and Behavior of Adolescents.

Using an ecological risk-factor approach, this study sought to identify risk factors related to suicidal behavior in a sample of 14,922 adolescents (11,027 European American adolescents and 3,895 African American adolescents) drawn from Michigan. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine significant predictors and to calculate a cumulative risk analysis. For both African American and European American males, risk factors related to frequent suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior were found at three levels of the social ecology: individual, family, and extrafamilial. Risk factors were also detected at all three levels of the ecology for both African American and European American females in terms of suicide attempts but not in terms of frequent suicidal thoughts. More similarities were found between the two ethnic groups and between males and females in terms of risk factors for suicidal ideation and attempted suicide. Results lend support to the use of an ecological risk-factor model for examining suicidal thoughts and attempts.

Community Youth Development: Programs, Policies, and Practices

Preface Acknowledgments 1. Community Youth Development: Partnership Creating a Positive World - Daniel F. Perkins (Pennsylvania State University), Lynne M. Borden (University of Arizona), Joanne G. Keith (Michigan State University), Tianna Hoppe-Rooney, & Francisco A. Villarruel (Michigan State University) Part I: Individual Issues 2. The African-American Child & Positive Youth Development: A Journey from Support to Sufficiency - Edna Olive (ROCKET, Inc.) 3. Research Realities & a Vision of Success for Latino Youth Development - Michael C. Rodriguez (University of Minnesota), Diana Morrobel (Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center), & Francisco A. Villarruel (Michigan State University) 4. Positive Youth Development in Urban American Indian Adolescents - Tamara C. Cheshire & Walter T. Kawamoto (California State University, Sacramento) 5. Facilitating Positive Development in Immigrant Youth: The Role of Mentors & Community Organizations - Jennifer G. Roffman, Carola Suarez-Orozco (Harvard University Graduate School of Education), & Jean E. Rhodes (University of Massachusetts, Boston) 6. The Role of Gender in Enhancing Program Strategies for Healthy Youth Development - Jill Denner (ETR Associates) & Amy Griffin (Michigan State University) 7. Adolescent Sexuality & Positive Youth Development - Stephen T. Russell (University of California, Davis, & 4-H Center for Youth Development) & Nikki Sigler Andrews 8. Positive Development for Youth with Disabilities: Lessons Learned from Two Stories of Success - Esther Onaga, Marsha Carolan, Cathryn Maddalena, & Francisco A. Villarruel (all of Michigan State University) Part II: The Intersection of Youth and Community Programs 9. A Serious Look at Leisure: The Role of Leisure Time & Recreation Activities in Positive Youth Development - Linda L. Caldwell & Cheryl K. Baldwin (both of Pennsylvania State University) 10. Working Hand in Hand: Community Youth Development & Career Development - Theresa M. Ferrari (Ohio State University) 11. Workforce & Youth Development for Court-Involved Youth: Barriers & Promising Approaches - David Brown, Edward DeJesus, Sarah Maxwell, & Vincent Schiraldi 12. The Character of Moral Communities: A Community Youth Development Approach to Enhancing Character Development - Karen L. Pace (Michigan State University) 13. Youth Civic Development: A Logical Next Step in Community Youth Development - Constance Flanagan & Beth Van Horn (both of Pennsylvania State University) 14. Giving Youth a Voice in Their Own Community & Personal Development: Strategies & Impacts of Bringing Youth to the Table - Melissa S. Quon Huber (Michigan State University), Jeff Frommeyer, Amy Weisenbach, and Jennifer Sazama Part III: Youth Professionals, Communities, and Youth 15. Key Elements of Community Youth Development Programs - Daniel F. Perkins (Pennsylvania State University) & Lynne M. Borden (University of Arizona) 16. Positive Youth Development: The Role of Competence - Angela J. Huebner (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University) 17. Adults Who Make a Difference: Identifying the Skills & Characteristics of Successful Youth Workers - Nicole Yohalem (The Forum for Youth Investment) 18. The Essential Youth Worker: Supports & Opportunities for Professional Success - Joyce A. Walker (University of Minnesota) 19. Community Youth Development: Youth Voice & Activism - Francisco A. Villarruel (Michigan State University), Daniel F. Perkins (Pennsylvania State University), Lynne M. Borden (University of Arizona), & Joanne G. Keith (Michigan State University) Author Index Subject Index About the Contributors

Participation in Structured Youth Programs: Why Ethnic Minority Urban Youth Choose to Participate--Or Not to Participate.

This study examines the cultural and contextual factors that influence the decisions of underrepresented urban youth, who identify themselves as Black/ African American, Latino, Arab, or Chaldean, to participate in youth programs. Although youth programs are increasingly recognized for their positive influences, little is known about the factors that influence a young persons decision to participate. Using the concept systems method, participants engaged in “brainstorming sessions” that led to more in-depth discussions about why youth participate in youth programs. Overall, youth emphasized how youth programs help young people stay off the streets, learn new skills, avoid boredom, and provide opportunities for fun and enjoyable activities. The perceived barriers preventing young people from participating differed between genders and ethnicities and included barriers related to personal decisions, peer influence, and parental restrictions.

After randomised trials: issues related to dissemination of evidence‐based interventions

Demonstrating the efficacy and effectiveness of prevention programmes in rigorous randomised trials is only the beginning of a process that may lead to better public health outcomes. Although a growing number of programmes have been shown to be effective at reducing drug use and delinquency among young people under carefully controlled conditions, we are now faced with a new set of obstacles. First, these evidence‐based programmes are still under‐utilised compared to prevention strategies with no empirical support. Second, when effective programmes are used the evidence suggests they are not being implemented with quality and fidelity. Third, effective programmes are often initiated with short‐term grant funding, creating a challenge for sustainability beyond seed funding. We discuss each of these challenges, and present lessons learned from a large‐scale dissemination effort involving over 140 evidence‐based programme replications in one state in the US.

Sustaining Evidence-based Interventions Under Real-world Conditions: Results from a Large-scale Diffusion Project

This study examined factors associated with the predicted and actual post-funding sustainability of evidence-based interventions implemented as part of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s Research-Based Delinquency and Violence Prevention Initiative. Correlates of predicted post-funding sustainability included program staff, overall school support, and school administrator support. Additionally, predicted post-funding sustainability was strongly associated with actual post-funding sustainability. Other correlates of actual post-funding sustainability included financial sustainability planning and aligning the intervention with the goals of the agency/school. Five years post-funding 33% of the interventions were no longer operating, 22% were operating at a reduced level, and 45% were operating at the same level or a higher level than the final year of funding. These findings are discussed in terms of implications for increasing intervention sustainability, as well as implications for future research on intervention sustainability.

Challenges and Opportunities to Latino Youth Development: Increasing Meaningful Participation in Youth Development Programs.

This study examines the cultural and contextual factors that influence Latino participation in youth programs. Although youth programs are increasingly recognized for their positive influences, little is known about the factors that influence a young person’s decision to participate. In this study, 67 Latino youth were asked about the reasons youth choose to and choose not to participate. Utilizing the Concept Systems method, youth participated in three phases of data collection—brainstorming, sorting, and ranking—to provide an in-depth understanding of reasons for and barriers to participation. Overall, youth ranked personal development and confidence as their top reasons for participation. Participants also ranked factors for participation higher than barriers to participation. Gender and intergenerational differences are discussed in more detail.

Youth and Adult Perceptions of Their Relationships Within Community-Based Youth Programs:

This study examined perceptions and experiences of youth and adults engaged in various types of community-based youth-adult relationships. Involvement and interaction rating scales were completed by 108 participants involved in community groups from 12 communities in 10 states. The rating scale measured three constructs: youth involvement, adult involvement, and youth-adult interaction. Significant gender differences in participants’ perceptions were found on all three constructs, with females being more positive. Rural participants were found to be significantly more positive than urban participants on the construct of youth involvement. Finally, significant differences were found between all participants within categories of the youth-adult relationship continuum. Participants in youth-led collaborations were significantly more positive toward youth involvement than participants in adult-led collaborations. Moreover, adults in youth-adult partnerships were significantly more positive toward youth involvement and youth-adult interaction than those adults in adult-led collaborations.

Moving Beyond Youth Voice

This study combines research documenting the benefits of positive relationships between youth and caring adults on a young person’s positive development with studies on youth voice to examine the mechanisms through which participation in youth programs contributes to positive developmental outcomes. Specifically, the study explores whether youth’s perceived quality relationships with adults contribute to strengthening of youth voice and in turn how the two combine to affect youth’s perception of the benefits of program participation. The findings derived from survey data regarding 748 youth who participated in youth—adult partnership programs in 29 states suggest that young people who develop positive relationships with adults perceive they have more voice in the program and in turn perceive more benefits to program participation. Implications for research and practice are presented.