Structural and Cultural Risk/Protective Factors of Behavior Problems

African American adolescents have had relatively low rates of drug use, but disproportionately high rates of antisocial behavior. No research has examined, and no single theory has adequately accounted for, this epidemiological paradox.

Even though Problem Behavior Theory suggests that drug use and antisocial behavior are part of a single problem behavior syndrome, this theory does not account for the low drug use / high antisocial behavior paradox among African American adolescents.

This study extends Problem Behavior Theory to better explain this paradox. The model extension is culture-specific because the evidence suggests that even though the risk and protective factors for problem behavior are similar across ethnic groups, these factors work differently in African American adolescents.

Two questions that need to be addressed are:

Under what conditions do the protective factors for drug use in African American adolescents fail to act as protective factors for antisocial behavior in this population?

What roles do culture-specific variables play in understanding the drug use/anti-social behavior paradox?

Answering these questions may lead to the enhancement of culturally sensitive prevention and treatment programs for youths at risk for drug use and antisocial behavior.

The specific aims of this study are:

1. To survey 210 African American youths and one of their parents to identify culture-specific factors that are common to drug use and antisocial behavior, but also unique to each problem behavior. The culture-specific protective constructs are;
   
• the adolescent's religiosity/spirituality
• family racial socialization,
• African American spiritual practices
• African American cultural practices and beliefs
• how a parent intracts with religious/spiritual systems, and
  
• how a parent copes with experiences of racial discrimination.
2. To conduct in-depth interviews with African American adolescents to explore culture-specific explanations for the drug use/antisocial behavior paradox. We will also explore the conditions in which protective factors are effective for drug use but not for antisocial behavior.
3. Based on findings on the above to aims, articulate a model that expands Jessor & Jessor Problem Behavior Theory so it is applied culturally and explains the drug use/antisocial behavior paradox in African American adolescents