Racial/ethnic differences in trajectories of aggression in a longitudinal sample of high-risk, urban youth.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate trajectories of aggression among African Americans and Hispanics using a longitudinal sample of urban adolescents, and test multiple domains of risk factors to differentiate profiles of aggression.


METHODS
Participants included 3,038 adolescents followed from sixth to eighth grade. Trajectories of aggression were estimated for African Americans and Hispanics separately, and multinomial regression procedures were used to evaluate the effect of multiple domains of risk and protective factors. Mediation analyses were conducted to evaluate the indirect effects of contextual variables on aggression.


RESULTS
Four profiles of aggression were identified. Among Hispanics, groups included: (1) low-aggression, (2) desistors, (3) escalators, and (4) consistent aggression; among African Americans: (1) low-aggression, (2) escalators, (3) moderate-consistent aggression, and (4) consistent aggression. Differences in the multiple domains of risk factors emerged between racial/ethnic groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Contextual variables (peer alcohol use, adult alcohol consumption, and access to alcohol at home) increased risk for aggression differentially by racial/ethnic group.
Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. jreingle1@ufl.edu
Jennifer M
JM
Reingle
Mildred M
MM
Maldonado-Molina
Wesley G
WG
Jennings
Kelli A
KA
Komro
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D011379:Prognosis; D012306:Risk; D014505:Urban Population