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Richard Jessor - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Adolescent Home-Leaving and the Transition to Adulthood: A Psychosocial and Behavioural Study in the Slums of Nairobi.
International Journal of Behavioral Development, 2020Co-Authors: Thaddaeus Egondi, Donatien Beguy, Caroline W Kabiru, Muindi Kanyiva, Richard JessorAbstract:Home-leaving is considered an important marker of the transition to adulthood and is usually framed as an individual decision. We move beyond this limited assumption to examine a broader conceptualization that might better illuminate home-leaving among youth in impoverished circumstances. We adopt the Problem Behavior Theory-framework to investigate the association of home-leaving with Behavioral and psychosocial variables and with other transitions. We use data on adolescents aged 14–22 years from a three-wave study conducted between 2007 and 2010. We used variable- and person-centered cross-sectional analyses, as well as predictive analysis of home-leaving by subsequent waves. Parental controls protection predicted home-leaving by subsequent waves. Overall, protective factors moderated the association of Problem Behavior involvement with leaving home in Nairobi’s slums.
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Introduction to the Volume
Problem Behavior Theory and the Social Context, 2017Co-Authors: Richard JessorAbstract:This chapter addresses the role that social context plays in the application of Problem Behavior Theory to various Problems across societies and settings as diverse as the slums of Nairobi; the middle schools of Beijing, China; and the inner city neighborhoods of Chicago and Denver. It provides an exposition about the multiple environments or contexts in which an adolescent is simultaneously embedded, some distal from experience, like the physical and geographic environment, and some more proximal to experience, such as the family, school, and neighborhood. It argues that the environment or context that is most proximal to experience and, hence, to Behavior is the perceived environment. The perceived environment is the environment of meaning for the adolescent and is, therefore, the environment that, in interaction with the person, is most determinative of Behavior and development. Reliance on a perceived environment concept brings up the issue of subjectivity in social inquiry, and the chapter argues that both quantitative and qualitative research approaches engage subjectivity and have in common a hermeneutic or interpretive methodological stance. The latter issue is one of several concerns in the philosophy of science that undergirds Problem Behavior Theory and that is noted in the chapter.
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Predicting the Initiation of Alcohol Use
Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development, 2017Co-Authors: Richard Jessor, Mary I. Collins, Shirley L JessorAbstract:This chapter reports a longitudinal study of the social-psychological process of ‘becoming a drinker,’ that is, of making the transition from abstainer status to drinker status. Applying the personality, perceived environment, and Behavioral system predictors of Problem Behavior Theory to junior and senior high school adolescents who had not yet begun to drink permitted an examination of prior variation that signaled the likelihood of making the transition from abstainer to drinker over a one-year time interval. Initial differences on these social-psychological predictors significantly predicted the transition to drinker status. The perceived environment variable, Social Support for Drinking, emerged as most important, but variables from the personality system, Value on Achievement and Value on Independence, were also significantly related to the transition. The study introduces the concept of adolescent proneness to make a developmental transition, and the necessity of longitudinal design in understanding developmental change.
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Value on Health and Fitness in Adolescent Behavioral Health
Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development, 2017Co-Authors: Frances M Costa, Richard Jessor, John E DonovanAbstract:A five-item measure of value on health, a new variable in the Personality System of Problem Behavior Theory (Jessor & Jessor, 1977), was construct-validated using cross-sectional data from 1588 male and female 7–12th grade students. Three aspects of construct validity were explored: first, the convergent and discriminant validity of the Value on Health Scale with other health-related psychosocial measures; second, the predictive validity of the Value on Health Scale in relation to health Behaviors; and third, the theoretical validity of the Value on Health Scale in relation to other constructs reflecting conventionality-unconventionality in Problem Behavior Theory. Value on Health related significantly to other health-related psychosocial measures such as self-description of health, and parental and peer models for health-enhancing Behavior. Value on Health also related significantly to greater involvement in health-enhancing Behaviors (e.g., regular physical exercise, seatbelt use, and attention to healthy diet). Finally, Value on Health was linked to a larger network of psychosocial and Behavioral characteristics that reflect the underlying dimension of conventionality-unconventionality in the Problem Behavior Theory framework. Value on health seems to be a useful addition to personality attributes that help explain variation in health Behavior among adolescents. It would also seem to be an important target for prevention/intervention efforts with that age group.
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Problem Drinking and Psychosocial Development in Adolescence
Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development, 2017Co-Authors: Richard JessorAbstract:Problem Behavior Theory is a social-psychological framework which helps to explain the nature and development of alcohol abuse, drug misuse and other Problem Behaviors. The aims of this paper are to present a brief overview of the Theory, to review some of the research that has been generated and to appraise the usefulness of the Theory when applied to drinking and Problem drinking among young people.
Frances M Costa - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Value on Health and Fitness in Adolescent Behavioral Health
Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development, 2017Co-Authors: Frances M Costa, Richard Jessor, John E DonovanAbstract:A five-item measure of value on health, a new variable in the Personality System of Problem Behavior Theory (Jessor & Jessor, 1977), was construct-validated using cross-sectional data from 1588 male and female 7–12th grade students. Three aspects of construct validity were explored: first, the convergent and discriminant validity of the Value on Health Scale with other health-related psychosocial measures; second, the predictive validity of the Value on Health Scale in relation to health Behaviors; and third, the theoretical validity of the Value on Health Scale in relation to other constructs reflecting conventionality-unconventionality in Problem Behavior Theory. Value on Health related significantly to other health-related psychosocial measures such as self-description of health, and parental and peer models for health-enhancing Behavior. Value on Health also related significantly to greater involvement in health-enhancing Behaviors (e.g., regular physical exercise, seatbelt use, and attention to healthy diet). Finally, Value on Health was linked to a larger network of psychosocial and Behavioral characteristics that reflect the underlying dimension of conventionality-unconventionality in the Problem Behavior Theory framework. Value on health seems to be a useful addition to personality attributes that help explain variation in health Behavior among adolescents. It would also seem to be an important target for prevention/intervention efforts with that age group.
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Linking Health Behavior and Problem Behavior in Adolescence
Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development, 2017Co-Authors: John E Donovan, Richard Jessor, Frances M CostaAbstract:Examined the relation of psychosocial and Behavioral conventionality-unconventionality to health-related Behavior in cross-sectional data from 1,588 male and female 7th to 12th graders. Conventionality-unconventionality was represented by personality, perceived social environment, and Behavior variables selected from the social-psychological framework of Problem Behavior Theory (R. Jessor & S. L. Jessor, 1977). Greater psychosocial conventionality correlates with more regular involvement in health-related Behavior (regular physical activity, adequate sleep, safety belt use, attention to healthy diet). Greater Behavioral conventionality (less involvement in Problem Behaviors such as marijuana use, Problem drinking, delinquent-type Behavior, and greater involvement in conventional Behaviors such as church attendance) was also associated with greater involvement in health-maintaining Behavior. The overall findings provide support for the extension of Problem Behavior Theory to the domain of adolescent health Behavior and for the relevance of the dimension of conventionality-unconventionality.
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Understanding Early Initiation of Sexual Intercourse in Adolescence
Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development, 2017Co-Authors: Frances M Costa, Richard Jessor, John E Donovan, J. Dennis FortenberryAbstract:Longitudinal data were used to examine the relationship of psychosocial unconventionality—rejection of societal norms and a propensity to engage in nonconforming Behavior—to early initiation of sexual intercourse in an urban sample of 1,330 White, Hispanic, and African-American male and female middle-school and high-school students. Measures of unconventionality were taken from the social-psychological framework of Problem Behavior Theory. Analysis of variance and Cox proportional hazard regression analysis were used to test the linkage of these measures to earlier initiation of intercourse. The model fit the data well for White and Hispanic youths; greater prior unconventionality was associated longitudinally with earlier transition to nonvirginity. The model was less appropriate for African-American adolescents. Reasons for these group differences are discussed.
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Predicting First Sexual Intercourse Experience
Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development, 2017Co-Authors: Richard Jessor, Frances M Costa, Lee Jessor, John E DonovanAbstract:Longitudinal psychosocial data are used to predict the transition from virginity to nonvirginity among adolescents, all of whom were virgins at the initial testing in 1970. By the most recent follow-up, in 1979, 93% reported having had sexual intercourse experience. Variation in time of onset of initial intercourse was categorized into six time periods and served as the main criterion variable in the study. Bivariate and multivariate analyses show that antecedent measures of personality, the perceived environment, and Behavior are predictive of variation in time of onset and, taken together, can account for approximately 30% of the criterion variance. The results support the utility of the Problem Behavior Theory framework and show onset of sexual intercourse to be a systematic aspect of psychosocial development in adolescence.
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Adolescent and Young Adult Risky Driving: The Role of Problem Drinking
Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development, 2017Co-Authors: Richard Jessor, John E Donovan, Frances M CostaAbstract:This chapter presents research to show that driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) and risky driving more generally are elements in a larger organization of Problem Behavior, a pattern of Behavior that can be considered a lifestyle. The research also shows that variation in drinking-driving and risky driving can be accounted for significantly by psychosocial variables drawn from Problem Behavior Theory. Three studies of youth and young adults are reported. In the study of young adults, multiple correlations (Rs) between the psychosocial measures and DUI reached .64 for the men and .54 for the women, both significant at p ≤ .001. Comparable multiple correlations of .52 and .43 were obtained in a study of male and female high school students. The implications of this perspective and these findings for prevention/intervention efforts are noted.
John E Donovan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Linking Health Behavior and Problem Behavior in Adolescence
Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development, 2017Co-Authors: John E Donovan, Richard Jessor, Frances M CostaAbstract:Examined the relation of psychosocial and Behavioral conventionality-unconventionality to health-related Behavior in cross-sectional data from 1,588 male and female 7th to 12th graders. Conventionality-unconventionality was represented by personality, perceived social environment, and Behavior variables selected from the social-psychological framework of Problem Behavior Theory (R. Jessor & S. L. Jessor, 1977). Greater psychosocial conventionality correlates with more regular involvement in health-related Behavior (regular physical activity, adequate sleep, safety belt use, attention to healthy diet). Greater Behavioral conventionality (less involvement in Problem Behaviors such as marijuana use, Problem drinking, delinquent-type Behavior, and greater involvement in conventional Behaviors such as church attendance) was also associated with greater involvement in health-maintaining Behavior. The overall findings provide support for the extension of Problem Behavior Theory to the domain of adolescent health Behavior and for the relevance of the dimension of conventionality-unconventionality.
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Value on Health and Fitness in Adolescent Behavioral Health
Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development, 2017Co-Authors: Frances M Costa, Richard Jessor, John E DonovanAbstract:A five-item measure of value on health, a new variable in the Personality System of Problem Behavior Theory (Jessor & Jessor, 1977), was construct-validated using cross-sectional data from 1588 male and female 7–12th grade students. Three aspects of construct validity were explored: first, the convergent and discriminant validity of the Value on Health Scale with other health-related psychosocial measures; second, the predictive validity of the Value on Health Scale in relation to health Behaviors; and third, the theoretical validity of the Value on Health Scale in relation to other constructs reflecting conventionality-unconventionality in Problem Behavior Theory. Value on Health related significantly to other health-related psychosocial measures such as self-description of health, and parental and peer models for health-enhancing Behavior. Value on Health also related significantly to greater involvement in health-enhancing Behaviors (e.g., regular physical exercise, seatbelt use, and attention to healthy diet). Finally, Value on Health was linked to a larger network of psychosocial and Behavioral characteristics that reflect the underlying dimension of conventionality-unconventionality in the Problem Behavior Theory framework. Value on health seems to be a useful addition to personality attributes that help explain variation in health Behavior among adolescents. It would also seem to be an important target for prevention/intervention efforts with that age group.
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Understanding Early Initiation of Sexual Intercourse in Adolescence
Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development, 2017Co-Authors: Frances M Costa, Richard Jessor, John E Donovan, J. Dennis FortenberryAbstract:Longitudinal data were used to examine the relationship of psychosocial unconventionality—rejection of societal norms and a propensity to engage in nonconforming Behavior—to early initiation of sexual intercourse in an urban sample of 1,330 White, Hispanic, and African-American male and female middle-school and high-school students. Measures of unconventionality were taken from the social-psychological framework of Problem Behavior Theory. Analysis of variance and Cox proportional hazard regression analysis were used to test the linkage of these measures to earlier initiation of intercourse. The model fit the data well for White and Hispanic youths; greater prior unconventionality was associated longitudinally with earlier transition to nonvirginity. The model was less appropriate for African-American adolescents. Reasons for these group differences are discussed.
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Predicting First Sexual Intercourse Experience
Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development, 2017Co-Authors: Richard Jessor, Frances M Costa, Lee Jessor, John E DonovanAbstract:Longitudinal psychosocial data are used to predict the transition from virginity to nonvirginity among adolescents, all of whom were virgins at the initial testing in 1970. By the most recent follow-up, in 1979, 93% reported having had sexual intercourse experience. Variation in time of onset of initial intercourse was categorized into six time periods and served as the main criterion variable in the study. Bivariate and multivariate analyses show that antecedent measures of personality, the perceived environment, and Behavior are predictive of variation in time of onset and, taken together, can account for approximately 30% of the criterion variance. The results support the utility of the Problem Behavior Theory framework and show onset of sexual intercourse to be a systematic aspect of psychosocial development in adolescence.
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Adolescent and Young Adult Risky Driving: The Role of Problem Drinking
Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development, 2017Co-Authors: Richard Jessor, John E Donovan, Frances M CostaAbstract:This chapter presents research to show that driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) and risky driving more generally are elements in a larger organization of Problem Behavior, a pattern of Behavior that can be considered a lifestyle. The research also shows that variation in drinking-driving and risky driving can be accounted for significantly by psychosocial variables drawn from Problem Behavior Theory. Three studies of youth and young adults are reported. In the study of young adults, multiple correlations (Rs) between the psychosocial measures and DUI reached .64 for the men and .54 for the women, both significant at p ≤ .001. Comparable multiple correlations of .52 and .43 were obtained in a study of male and female high school students. The implications of this perspective and these findings for prevention/intervention efforts are noted.
Robert Ndugwa - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Problem Behavior Theory and adolescent Problem Behavior in sub saharan africa
2017Co-Authors: Robert Ndugwa, Caroline W Kabiru, John C Cleland, Donatien Beguy, Thaddeus Egondi, Eliya M Zulu, Richard JessorAbstract:Adolescent involvement in Problem Behaviors can compromise health, development, and successful transition to adulthood. The present study explores the appropriateness of a particular theoretical framework, Problem Behavior Theory, to account for variation in Problem Behavior among adolescents in informal settlements around a large, rapidly urbanizing city in sub-Saharan Africa. Data were collected from samples of never married adolescents of both sexes, aged 12–19, living in two Nairobi slum settlements (N = 1,722). Measures of the theoretical psychosocial protective and risk factor concepts provided a substantial, multi-variate, and explanatory account of adolescent Problem Behavior variation and demonstrated that protection can also moderate the impact of exposure to risk. Key protective and risk factors constitute targets for policies and programs to enhance the health and well-being of poor urban adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Adolescent Problem Behavior in Nairobi's Informal Settlements: Applying Problem Behavior Theory in Sub-Saharan Africa
Journal of Urban Health, 2011Co-Authors: Robert Ndugwa, Caroline W Kabiru, John C Cleland, Donatien Beguy, Thaddeus Egondi, Eliya M Zulu, Richard JessorAbstract:Adolescent involvement in Problem Behaviors can compromise health, development, and successful transition to adulthood. The present study explores the appropriateness of a particular theoretical framework, Problem Behavior Theory, to account for variation in Problem Behavior among adolescents in informal settlements around a large, rapidly urbanizing city in sub-Saharan Africa. Data were collected from samples of never married adolescents of both sexes, aged 12–19, living in two Nairobi slum settlements ( N = 1,722). Measures of the theoretical psychosocial protective and risk factor concepts provided a substantial, multi-variate, and explanatory account of adolescent Problem Behavior variation and demonstrated that protection can also moderate the impact of exposure to risk. Key protective and risk factors constitute targets for policies and programs to enhance the health and well-being of poor urban adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.
Donatien Beguy - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Adolescent Home-Leaving and the Transition to Adulthood: A Psychosocial and Behavioural Study in the Slums of Nairobi.
International Journal of Behavioral Development, 2020Co-Authors: Thaddaeus Egondi, Donatien Beguy, Caroline W Kabiru, Muindi Kanyiva, Richard JessorAbstract:Home-leaving is considered an important marker of the transition to adulthood and is usually framed as an individual decision. We move beyond this limited assumption to examine a broader conceptualization that might better illuminate home-leaving among youth in impoverished circumstances. We adopt the Problem Behavior Theory-framework to investigate the association of home-leaving with Behavioral and psychosocial variables and with other transitions. We use data on adolescents aged 14–22 years from a three-wave study conducted between 2007 and 2010. We used variable- and person-centered cross-sectional analyses, as well as predictive analysis of home-leaving by subsequent waves. Parental controls protection predicted home-leaving by subsequent waves. Overall, protective factors moderated the association of Problem Behavior involvement with leaving home in Nairobi’s slums.
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Problem Behavior Theory and adolescent Problem Behavior in sub saharan africa
2017Co-Authors: Robert Ndugwa, Caroline W Kabiru, John C Cleland, Donatien Beguy, Thaddeus Egondi, Eliya M Zulu, Richard JessorAbstract:Adolescent involvement in Problem Behaviors can compromise health, development, and successful transition to adulthood. The present study explores the appropriateness of a particular theoretical framework, Problem Behavior Theory, to account for variation in Problem Behavior among adolescents in informal settlements around a large, rapidly urbanizing city in sub-Saharan Africa. Data were collected from samples of never married adolescents of both sexes, aged 12–19, living in two Nairobi slum settlements (N = 1,722). Measures of the theoretical psychosocial protective and risk factor concepts provided a substantial, multi-variate, and explanatory account of adolescent Problem Behavior variation and demonstrated that protection can also moderate the impact of exposure to risk. Key protective and risk factors constitute targets for policies and programs to enhance the health and well-being of poor urban adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Problem Behavior Theory and the transition to adulthood in the slums of nairobi kenya
2017Co-Authors: Thaddaeus Egondi, Donatien Beguy, Caroline W Kabiru, Kanyiva Muindi, Richard JessorAbstract:Home-leaving is considered an important marker of the transition to adulthood and is usually framed as an individual decision. We move beyond this limited assumption to examine a broader conceptualization that might better illuminate home-leaving among youth in impoverished circumstances. We adopt the Problem Behavior Theory-framework to investigate the association of home-leaving with Behavioral and psychosocial variables and with other transitions. We use data on adolescents aged 14–22 years from a three-wave study conducted between 2007 and 2010. We used variable- and person-centered cross-sectional analyses, as well as predictive analysis of home-leaving by subsequent waves. Parental controls protection predicted home-leaving by subsequent waves. Overall, protective factors moderated the association of Problem Behavior involvement with leaving home in Nairobi’s slums.
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Adolescent Problem Behavior in Nairobi's Informal Settlements: Applying Problem Behavior Theory in Sub-Saharan Africa
Journal of Urban Health, 2011Co-Authors: Robert Ndugwa, Caroline W Kabiru, John C Cleland, Donatien Beguy, Thaddeus Egondi, Eliya M Zulu, Richard JessorAbstract:Adolescent involvement in Problem Behaviors can compromise health, development, and successful transition to adulthood. The present study explores the appropriateness of a particular theoretical framework, Problem Behavior Theory, to account for variation in Problem Behavior among adolescents in informal settlements around a large, rapidly urbanizing city in sub-Saharan Africa. Data were collected from samples of never married adolescents of both sexes, aged 12–19, living in two Nairobi slum settlements ( N = 1,722). Measures of the theoretical psychosocial protective and risk factor concepts provided a substantial, multi-variate, and explanatory account of adolescent Problem Behavior variation and demonstrated that protection can also moderate the impact of exposure to risk. Key protective and risk factors constitute targets for policies and programs to enhance the health and well-being of poor urban adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.