Ecological influences on health-promoting and health-compromising behaviors: a socially embedded approach to urban African American girls' health.
An ecological framework provides the underpinnings for the examination of factors associated with the health-promoting and health-compromising behaviors of African American adolescent females (N=137). Findings indicate that more positive family, peer, and neighborhood factors were associated with less engagement in health-compromising behaviors and increased engagement in health-promoting behaviors. Also, more positive family interactions buffered the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and adolescents' engagement in health-compromising behaviors. Overall, the findings suggest that the health-related behaviors of African American adolescent females are best understood in the context of their social relationships and environmental contexts.
Cooper
Shauna M
SM
Center for Developmental Science, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill 27599, USA. coopersm@unc.edu
Guthrie
Barbara
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012309:Risk-Taking; D014505:Urban Population; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*