Contextual amplification of pubertal transition effects on deviant peer affiliation and externalizing behavior among African American children.
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.
Ge
Xiaojia
X
Department of Human and Community Development, University of California, Davis 95616, USA. xjge@ucdavis.edu
Brody
Gene H
GH
Conger
Rand D
RD
Simons
Ronald L
RL
Murry
Velma McBride
VM
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