Ties to influential adults among black and white adolescents: culture, social class, and family networks.
Although prior research suggests the importance of nonparental adults to adolescents, the ecological context of those relationships has received little attention. This study examined ties to influential adults among 122 adolescents who varied by race, family structure, and gender The strongest effects were for race. Blacks reported stronger ties than Whites to the maternal grandmother as well as more supportive interactions with adult males. While race differences in grandparental ties were robust across social class (SES), ties to an influential adult male became nonsignificant upon controlling for SES. African American girls from divorced families consistently reported the strongest ties. Discussion considers the role of culture versus SES in explaining race differences. Implications for mentoring interventions are proposed, with special attention to the role of actualizing latent ties to already existing network members.
Hirsch
Barton J
BJ
Program in Human Development and Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA. bhirsch@northwestern.edu
Mickus
Maureen
M
Boerger
Rebecca
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003469:Culture; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*