Influences of Nonparental Adults on the Psychosocial Outcomes of At-Risk African American Adolescents.

Abstract

This dissertation includes three studies that focus on nonparental adult influences on African American adolescents’ outcomes. All of these studies applied a resilience framework to investigate the potential of nonparental adults to influence adolescents’ outcomes. These studies focused on African American adolescents residing in urban, low-income neighborhoods. The first two studies explored potential effects of natural mentoring relationships on adolescent outcomes during the transition to adulthood, while the last study focused on how role model prosocial and antisocial behavior may influence violent behavior among a group of seventh and eighth graders. In my first study, I found that adolescents who had relationships with supportive nonparental adults (natural mentors) had fewer symptoms of depression and engaged in fewer sexual risk behaviors over time. In addition, I found that the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms was moderated by the presence of a natural mentor. In my second study, I found that adolescent mothers with natural mentors demonstrated fewer depressive symptoms and less anxiety symptoms over time in comparison to their counterparts without a natural mentor. In addition, I found that natural mentor presence moderated the relationship between stress and mental health outcomes over time. In my third study, I found that role model prosocial behavior was indirectly related to less violent behavior through adolescents’ attitudes toward violence. Additionally, I found that role model antisocial behavior was both indirectly and directly related to increased violent behavior among adolescents. Overall, these three dissertation studies suggest that nonparental adults can be powerful influences on African American adolescents’ development. The findings from these three studies suggest that by providing support and encouragement or modeling prosocial behavior, nonparental adults may help youth be resilient against risky environments. At the same time, my findings also suggest that nonparental adults have the potential to compound adolescents’ risk for negative outcomes by modeling antisocial behaviors. Programs and policies that encourage adults’ involvement in adolescents’ lives may help both motivate them to set positive examples of responsible behavior and create opportunities for youth to model their behavior.