title: Testing Jessor's problem behavior theory and syndrome: a nationally representative comparative sample of Latino and African American adolescents.
abstract: Based on Jessor's problem behavior theory (PBT; R. Jessor, 1987, Problem-behavior theory, psychosocial development, and adolescent problem drinking, British Journal of Addiction, Vol. 82, pp. 331-342), the comparability of a second-order problem behavior model (SPBM) was investigated employing structural equation modeling (SEM) and latent mean differences in problem behavior engagement were examined among racial/ethnic adolescents. Within a span of nearly 25 years, this study represents the first nationally representative sample of Latino and African American adolescents utilized in testing Jessor's PBT and problem behavior syndrome (PBS). Using a sample of 5,831 Latino, African American, and European American adolescents drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a series of invariance tests evidenced support for Jessor's PBT and PBS. Latent mean difference test results evidenced significant differences in problem behaviors (e.g., academic failure [AF], aggression [AG], substance use [SU], and risky sexual activity[RSA]) across racial/ethnic adolescent groups, which could be explained partially by PBS. A discussion of findings, limitations, and recommendations for future research is presented.
authors: Department of Educational Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, NJ, USA. mmobley@salemstate.edu
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Mobley
authors: Heejung
authors: H
authors: Chun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment; D012933:Social Identification; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data