Von E. Nebbitt

Family Matters: The Role of Mental Health Stigma and Social Support on Depressive Symptoms and Subsequent Help Seeking Among African American Boys

African American adolescent boys underutilize mental health service due to stigma associated with depression. Gaining an increased understanding of how depressed, African American adolescent boys perceive their mental health needs and engage in help-seeking behaviors might play an essential role in efforts to improve their symptoms and access to care. Using a mixed-methods design, this study examined the influence of mental health stigma and social support on depressive symptoms among African American adolescent boys. Findings indicated the protective effects of social support in decreasing depressive symptoms, especially when participants experienced mental health stigma. Results also revealed the pivotal role of family social support over both professional and peer support for participants who struggled with depressive symptoms. The primacy of family support among the sample, combined with the frequent distrust of professionals and peer networks, would indicate that working with families may improve initial identification of depression among African American adolescent boys and decrease their barriers to care.

Short-Term Outcomes for Youth Receiving Runaway and Homeless Shelter Services

Objective: Few studies have assessed the outcomes of runaway/homeless youth that seek assistance from shelter or crisis services, which would provide much needed documentation of intervention effectiveness and point to new directions for service provision. The goals of the current study were to: (1) assess short-term outcomes among runaway/homeless youth using emergency shelters and crisis services and (2) compare short-term outcomes achieved by runaway/homeless youth in crisis shelters with similar youth using other, longer-term treatment modalities. Method: The study sampled 261 youth using runaway/homeless shelters from four midwestern states at intake and six-weeks postdischarge and 47 high-risk youth using longer-term services at intake and six weeks postintake; ten key outcome variables were assessed. Results: Every outcome variable demonstrated improvement postintervention: days on the run, school suspension and/or detention, and sexual activity decreased; perceived family support and self-esteem increased; and youth were more likely to be currently employed and less likely to have been fired. In comparing runaway/homeless crisis shelter users with day treatment users on the ten outcome variables, there were no significant differences across any of the outcome variables. Conclusions: Despite limitations, the research provides evidence for the short-term effectiveness of crisis shelter services for runaway/homeless youth.

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.

Environmental Correlates of Depressive Symptoms Among African American Adolescents Living in Public Housing

Abstract Using a sample of 238 African American adolescents living in public housing, this study assesses the prevalence of depressive symptoms and examines the relationship between depressive symptoms and neighborhood characteristics. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 34. Males (M = 20) reported significantly higher depressive symptoms than females (M = 16). Results show a significant relationship between ambient risk and depressive symptoms. The relationship between ambient risk and depressive symptoms was exacerbated by exposure to delinquent peers. Parental factors and attitude towards deviance buffered the relationship between ambient risk and depressive symptoms. These findings may have important implications for social policy and suggest that interventions to prevent depression among African American adolescents, living in public housing developments, must not only focus on reducing neighborhood risk factors but also on enhancing the protective factors available to the youth.

Understanding tobacco use among urban African American adolescents living in public housing communities: a test of problem behavior theory.

This study was guided by Jessor and Jessors problem behavior theory (PBT) to test the relative effects of personality, perceived environment and behavior system variables on urban teen tobacco use. A sample of 518 urban African American youth residing in public housing communities in three large U.S. cities was utilized. Our results provide partial support for PBT in this study. Personality system variables (i.e., positive attitudes toward tobacco use, and depressive affect, cause and outcome indicators) and behavior system variables (i.e., delinquent behaviors) significantly predicted adolescent tobacco use. Depressive effect and cause indicators were stronger than depressive outcome indicators in predicting the extent of tobacco use. Additionally, age positively moderated the impact of positive attitudes about tobacco use on the extent of adolescent tobacco use. However, perceived environment system variables (e.g., exposure to delinquent peers) did not predict such use. This study suggests that PBT may aid in understanding adolescent tobacco use. Implications for practice and future inquiry are discussed.

Assessing the Moderating Effects of Anxiety Sensitivity on Antisocial Behavior among Urban African American Youth

African American adolescents are a vulnerable population, overrepresented in the juvenile justice system and underserved by mental health providers. Consequently, a disproportionate number of African American youth in the juvenile justice system have diagnosable mental health problems. This study investigates whether, among African American adolescents, the effects of attitude towards deviance, self-efficacy, and exposure to delinquent peers on antisocial behavior are moderated by anxiety sensitivity. A sample of 238 African American adolescents ages 13–19 from 3 public housing developments participated in this study. Results indicated that 40% of the adolescents reported no involvement in antisocial behaviors. Gender, anxiety sensitivity, and attitudes towards deviance were significant correlates of antisocial behavior. Interaction effects indicate that the relative impact of attitudes towards deviance and exposure to delinquent peers on antisocial behaviors is contingent upon adolescents’ level of anxiety sensitivity. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Assessing Effects of Food Stamp Program Participation on Child Food Security in Vulnerable Households: Do Informal Supports Matter?

The Food Stamp Program (now the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is one of the largest federal welfare initiatives undertaken to address the problem of hunger and nutrient intake among households in poverty. We build on previous research by examining the effects of participating in the program on food security among children in vulnerable households using data from the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement for 2003. We also explore the moderating effects of informal food assistance. Our results suggest that food stamp take-up and informal food assistance are important in understanding child food security in vulnerable households. Further, we note that a number of individual and household characteristics are associated with child food security. Implications for practice and scholarship are presented.

Urban African American Adolescents and Adultification

Historically, African American adolescents have experienced higher rates of victimization and disenfranchisement compared to other subgroups in contemporary American society. Several theories exist that attempt to explicate factors that differentiated youth with positive adaptations from those with negative adaptations. Using a sample of African American youth living in urban public housing (N = 238), we contribute to this body of research by assessing whether or not adultification and community cohesion buffer the effects of exposure to deviant peers and neighborhood hazard on depressive symptoms. Results suggest that adultification and perceived community cohesion moderate the effects of delinquent peers and neighborhood risk on depressive symptoms in this vulnerable population of urban youth. Implications for policy, social work practice, and future inquiry are discussed.

Assessing Effects of Food Stamp Program Participation on Food Security in Female-Headed Households: Do Informal Supports Matter?

The food stamp program is one of the largest federal welfare initiatives undertaken to address the problem of hunger and nutrient intake among households in poverty. We build on previous research by examining effects of participating in the program on the food security of vulnerable households (N = 23,360), using data from the Food Security Supplement to the Current Population Survey for 2003. We also explore the moderating effects of informal food assistance on this relationship. Our results suggest that food stamp-takeup and informal food assistance are important in understanding food security in vulnerable households. Also, a number of individual characteristics are associated with household food sufficiency. Implications for practice and scholarship are presented.

Correlates of age at onset of sexual intercourse in African American adolescents living in urban public housing.

Research has found the early onset of sexual activity (having sexual intercourse before age 13) among adolescents to be related to teen pregnancy and a range of health-risk behaviors and higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS. These findings are most prevalent in urban African American adolescents. Using a sample of 299 sexually active African American adolescents living in public housing developments in a large Northeast and a large Mid-Atlantic city, this study assesses the influence of family, peers, and the individual on the age of onset of sexual intercourse. All participants completed surveys in their housing developments. Results indicate an average age of onset of 14. Males reported a significantly younger age of onset and more sexual partners than females. Exposure to delinquent peers and self-efficacy were significant predictors of age of onset. Implications for practice are discussed.