James Herbert Williams

Gender Differences in Self-Perceptions and Academic Outcomes: A Study of African American High School Students

There is increasing divergence in the academic outcomes of African American males and females. By most accounts, males are falling behind their female peers educationally as African American females are graduating from high schools at higher rates and are going on to college and graduate school in greater numbers. Some have suggested that school completion and performance is associated with how students feel about themselves. The purpose of this study was to explore gender differences in the relationship between self-perceptions and 2 academic outcomes among a sample of 243 African American high school sophomores. The results suggest that, overall, females are more favorably oriented toward high school completion. Both male and female students with more positive self-perceptions have stronger intentions to complete the current year of high school. Higher grade point averages were more strongly associated with greater self-efficacy for females than for males. Given these findings, increased attention to educational programming, societal messages, and future research is warranted.

Assessing Correlates of Onset, Escalation, Deescalation, and Desistance of Delinquent Behavior

This article evaluates the utility of social development model constructs toassess the correlates of onset, escalation, deescalation, and desistance ofdelinquent behavior, from age 12 to age 15, using a dynamic classificationapproach. Dynamic classification places individuals into categories basedon changes in levels of delinquent behavior over time. These analyses assessthe extent to which specific constructs are associated with changes in thedelinquency status of individuals. Constructs of the social developmentmodel (SDM), including opportunities for conventional involvement, skillsfor conventional involvement, rewards for conventional involvement,proactive family management, bonding to conventional society, opportunitiesfor antisocial involvement, antisocial interactions, perceived rewards forantisocial involvement, and norms against drug use, were significantlyassociated with change in delinquent behavior over time. Many of theconstructs were particularly salient in distinguishing between youths whoremained involved in delinquency and youths who deescalated or desisted fromdelinquent behavior during this period. Implications for preventiveinterventions and criminological theory are discussed.

Friends, Family, and Neighborhood Understanding Academic Outcomes of African American Youth

This study examines the relationship between academic performance and a number of contextual factors for African American freshmen in an urban setting. Living arrangements, relatives and friends’ religiosity, exposure to academic success, and neighborhood perceptions were analyzed to investigate their impact on intention to complete school, grade point average (GPA), and number of suspensions. Results indicate that gender, church attendance by peers, and percentage of relatives completing high school were significant in predicting positive academic outcomes. Perception of neighborhood deterioration was inversely related to intention for school completion and GPA. School suspensions were positively related to perception of neighborhood deterioration. Implications for interventions are discussed.

Cultural Relevancy of a Diabetes Prevention Nutrition Program for African American Women

Diabetes among African American women is a pressing health concern, yet there are few evaluated culturally relevant prevention programs for this population. This article describes a case study of the Eat Well Live Well Nutrition Program, a community-based, culturally specific diabetes prevention nutrition program for African American women. The stages of change theory and principles from community organization guided the development of the program. Health education strategies, including participatory development and program delivery by peer educators, were applied to promote cultural relevance. Results indicated that overall participants (90%) believed the program to be culturally relevant and were very satisfied with the program (82%). Cultural relevancy was significantly associated with greater program satisfaction and changes in dietary patterns when controlling for the number of sessions attended. Conclusions suggest that participatory strategies can be effective in designing culturally specific prevention programs for African American women.

Depression and poverty among African-American women at risk for Type 2 diabetes

Poverty is associated with negative health outcomes, including depression. Little is known about the specific elements of poverty that contribute to depression, particularly among African American women at risk for type 2 diabetes. This study examined the relationships of economic and social resources to depression among African American women at high risk for the development of type 2 diabetes (N = 181) using the Conservation of Resources theory as a conceptual framework. Women were assessed at 3 time points in conjunction with a dietary change intervention. At baseline, 40% of women reported clinically significant depression, and 43.3% were below the poverty line. Depressed women reported fewer economic assets and greater economic distress than nondepressed peers. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that nonwork status, lack of home ownership, low appraisal of one’s economic situation, low self-esteem, and increased life events were significantly associated with depression at baseline. Longitudinal multivariate logistic regression models indicated that income, home ownership, future economic appraisal, life events, and self-esteem predicted depression trajectories at Time 3. These results speak to the multifaceted sources of stress in the lives of poor African American women. Interventions that address the economic and social factors associated with depression are needed.

Dementia Undiagnosed in Poor Older Adults with Functional Impairment

OBJECTIVES: To identify variables associated with diagnosing dementia in poor older adults by comparing older people with dementia who were diagnosed by their primary care physicians (PCPs) with those not diagnosed by their PCP.

Conflict and human security in the North Rift and North Eastern Kenya

Purpose - Within the theoretical context of human security, this United Nations (UN) three-year research project examines the causes and effects of conflicts in the arid and semi-arid lands of Northern Kenya. The purpose of this paper is to address the human security concerns arising out of conflict, displacement, migration and poverty. The people who live in the area are mainly nomadic pastoralists. Design/methodology/approach - A review of previous empirical research and ongoing field studies are used to examine four problem areas: cattle rustling, proliferation of small arms, competition over scarce resources and conflict between refugees and local communities. Findings - Seeking access to water and green pastures, the nomads generally follow their cattle across the region, and their movement is not confined to Kenya alone. They cross and re-cross international boundaries to and from Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia and Uganda resulting in conflicts over water and pasture. Resource competition in a fragile economy has had grave consequences for the economic security of families and internally displaced people. Originality/value - The North Rift and North Eastern regions of Kenya are the most underdeveloped area of the country and suffer from a high level of human insecurity, with more than three-quarters of the population living below the poverty line. This UN project seeks an empirical understanding of the causes of conflict and ways to build the capacity of a vulnerable population to gain both freedom from fear and freedom from want.

The Short-Term Impact of a Health Promotion Program For Low-Income African American Women

Objective: The purpose of this study is to describe the results of a process and outcome evaluation of a culturally specific, peer-led, dietary change program designed to reduce the risk of noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) among low-income African American women. Method: Using an experimental, control-group design, 239 African American women completed pretest and posttest interviews that included measures of nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, fat intake, and weight. Results: Significant reductions in fat intake were found among women in the treatment condition. Participants significantly increased low-fat dietary patterns and showed higher levels of nutrition-related knowledge. Examination of physical data indicates that no significant weight differences were found between the treatment and control groups. Conclusions: This model of health promotion, which individually tailors the intervention content through staging and used community organization strategies, has potential for reducing the risk of diet-related diseases among African American women.

Child Maltreatment and Delinquency Onset Among African American Adolescent Males

Child welfare and criminology research have increasingly sought to better understand factors that increase the likelihood that abused and neglected children will become involved in the juvenile justice system. However, few studies have addressed this relationship among African American male adolescents. The current study examines the relationship between child maltreatment (i.e., neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and other/mixed abuse) and the likelihood of a delinquency petition using a sample of African American males (N = 2,335) born before 1990. Multivariable logistic regression models compared those with a delinquency-based juvenile justice petition to those without. Results indicate that African American males with a history of neglect, physical abuse, or other/mixed abuse were more likely to be involved in the juvenile justice system than those without any child maltreatment. Additionally, multiple maltreatment reports, a prior history of mental health treatment, victimization, and having a parent who did not complete high school also increased the likelihood of a delinquency petition. Implications for intervention and prevention are discussed.

An Interdisciplinary Outreach Model of African American Recruitment for Alzheimer’s Disease Research

PURPOSE The African American Outreach Satellite (Satellite) provides educational outreach to facilitate African American recruitment for longitudinal studies at the Washington University Alzheimers Disease Research Center (ADRC). This descriptive article characterizes the Satellites recruitment methods, plan for community engagement, results of recruitment efforts, and potential for replication. DESIGN AND METHODS The Satellite developed a comprehensive outreach and recruitment plan that identifies and addresses barriers to research participation. The Satellite conducts community outreach and recruitment programs and training for health care providers. RESULTS Enrollment of cognitively healthy and mildly demented African Americans for participation in all ADRC studies increased following implementation of the recruitment plan. Current African American participation rates for ADRC studies include 39% for lumbar puncture, 43% for positron emission tomography with Pittsburgh Compound-B, 52% for magnetic resonance imaging, 95% for apolipoprotein E genotype testing, and 100% for clinical and cognitive assessment. IMPLICATIONS The Satellite reduces barriers to research participation, encourages retention through sustained interactions with participants and their families, and develops lasting partnerships with community organizations and health professionals who care for African American elders.