title: Contextual amplification of pubertal transition effects on deviant peer affiliation and externalizing behavior among African American children.
abstract: The effects of the pubertal transition on behavior problems and its interaction with family and neighborhood circumstances were examined with a sample of 867 African American children 10-12 years of age. Pubertal development status, pubertal timing, and primary caregivers' parenting behaviors were significantly related to affiliation with deviant peers and externalizing behaviors. Externalizing behavior among early-maturing children was associated positively with primary caregivers' use of harsh-inconsistent discipline and negatively with nurturant-involved parenting practices. Disadvantaged neighborhood conditions were significantly associated with deviant peer affiliation. The effect of pubertal transition varied according to family and neighborhood conditions: Early-maturing children living in disadvantaged neighborhoods were significantly more likely to affiliate with deviant peers. Early-maturing children with harsh and inconsistent parents were significantly more likely to have externalizing problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and Community Development, University of California, Davis 95616, USA. xjge@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Xiaojia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Gene H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Brody
authors.forename: Rand D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Conger
authors.forename: Ronald L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.forename: Velma McBride
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Murry
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D010379:Peer Group; D011627:Puberty / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment