부산대학교 도서관

Summary: African American adolescents are commonly described as being at increased risk for adjustment problems and poor outcomes in adulthood. However, many economically disadvantaged African American children do not experience poor developmental outcomes in adulthood. Clarification regarding the development of and levels of competence and risk in low-income African American samples is needed. A multi-study design was used to explore outcomes of competence and risk in a representative sample, examine the degree of distribution of competence and risk in inner-city and rural African American adolescents, and investigate factors that may be associated with competence and risk. The general aim of the dissertation was to extrapolate information on competence and risk from a representative sample and extend it to low-income African American early adolescents. In study 1, outcomes resulting from profiles of competence and risk were examined. Less than one-third of participants from the representative sample were characterized by profiles of risk that were linked with problematic adjustment in early adolescence. Positive outcomes were more frequently associated with profiles of competence, and profiles of risk were associated with more problematic outcomes in adulthood. Study 2 examined the extent to which profiles emerged in the cross-sectional samples of African American youth. Results indicated that levels of competence and risk in both the inner-city and the rural samples were comparable to the levels found in the representative sample. Approximately 60% of inner-city and rural participants were characterized by profiles associated with positive adaptation in adolescence. Relative similarity existed in the proportions of participants characterized by the profiles within geographic settings and also between each sample and the representative sample. In study 3, participants' self-attributions, social network centrality, and social affiliations were explored to determine their associations with competence and risk. African American youth typically viewed themselves positively on all dimensions. Analyses found no significant differences in the social network centrality of inner-city youth with respect to competence or risk profile membership. Among rural participants, social network centrality differed based on profile membership. Individuals also affiliated with peers who had behavioral profiles that reflected their own levels of competence or risk. Implications of these findings are discussed.