Ecology matters: Neighborhood differences in the protective role of self-control and social support for adolescent antisocial behavior.

Abstract

Adolescence can be characterized as a time when aggression, delinquency, and violence (taken together as antisocial behavior) increase. Adolescents who engage in antisocial behavior increase local crime and can create unsafe conditions for families. Understanding the protective factors that mitigate antisocial behavior can help to inform prevention practices. Using data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (n = 1,072, 51.40% female, 39.18% Hispanic, 32.28% Black), we examined how self-control, social support, and neighborhood characteristics were associated with these behaviors. Using latent profile analyses, we categorized neighborhoods based on several dimensions, including violence, disadvantage, and collective efficacy. Then, we examined how self-control and social support were associated with antisocial behavior within and across neighborhoods. Results suggested that self-control was a protective feature in only some types of disadvantaged and dangerous neighborhoods. We discuss findings in terms of implications for programs and policies to mitigate youth violence and delinquency. (PsycINFO Database Record

Self‐control and Adolescent Internalizing and Externalizing Problems: Neighborhood‐based Differences

“…These neighborhood‐level factors could be differentially associated to youth outcomes. Thus, a pattern‐centered approach enables researchers to highlight commonalities in the relations between neighborhood factors and youth outcomes, providing a holistic examination of the system in which these factors form (see Anderson, Donlan, McDermott, & Zaff, , for a previous application of this approach).…”

Association between self-control and health risk behaviors: a cross-sectional study with 9th grade adolescents in São Paulo

“…One important socioemotional factor is self-control, “the ability to self-regulate behavior and inhibit impulses” [ 13 ] or “the ability to pursue overarching goals despite short-term temptations, distractions or aversive states” [ 14 ].…”

“…Low self-control has been found to be associated with many negative outcomes [ 15 ]. In particular, among adolescents around the globe, low SC has been found to be positively associated with criminal offending, aggressive or delinquent behavior [ 13 , 16 – 25 ], use of legal and illegal psychoactive substances [ 26 – 29 ], bullying perpetration [ 30 , 31 ] and negatively associated with health promoting behaviors [ 32 ]. Similar associations have been found regarding dietary habits [ 20 , 33 ] and sedentary behavior [ 34 , 35 ].…”

Unpacking middle school achievement: how students perceive the effect of home, school, and community influences on their academic success

“…However, location can also include positive neighborhood characteristics such as increased access to resources, community involvement and volunteering, and provide structure to mitigate anti-social and negative influences in association with crime, violence, gentrification and poverty (Anderson et al, 2015;Witherspoon & Hughes, 2014). This includes claims that community programs and after-school activities can provide positive influences on adolescents when offering a combination of academic and interest-based curriculum for middle school students (Afterschool Alliance, 2011;Durlak et al, 2010;Rothstein, 2005).…”

“…Thus, when parents provide tangible and socio-economic support, as measured directly through instances of home-school contact, and indirectly through the provision of allowances, rewards, and privileges, students develop a greater base of resilience and perseverance to task (Spera, 2006;Yeung & Conley, 2008;Zhu et al, 2014). Similarly, involvement in extra-curricular and community activities like churches, sporting clubs, and activity centers can shape student perceptions of themselves and assist with the formation of hopes, goals and fears (Anderson, Donlan, McDermott, & Zaff, 2015;Douglas & Arnold, 2016;.…”