Pathways From Bullying Victimization to Suicidal Thoughts Among Urban African American Adolescents: Applying the General Strain Theory.

ABSTRACT: The present study explores the relationship between bullying victimization and suicidal thoughts among African American adolescents in urban neighborhoods. The study, which was guided by the general strain theory, proposed and tested potential pathways that link bullying victimization with suicidal thoughts through the mediators including emotional distress, low future orientation, hopelessness, and drug use. The study sample included 414 African American adolescents who were between ages 12 and 22 years and residing in low-income Chicago's South Side neighborhoods. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation, and path analyses were conducted. Bullying victimization was not significantly related to suicidal thoughts, although it was positively associated with emotional distress and drug use. The association between low future orientation and hopelessness was bidirectional. The study findings have implications for practice, which is important as resources to assist adolescents who are affected by violence tend to be limited.

Adults and Family as Supportive of Adolescent Sexual Development in the Age of Smartphones? Exploring Cybersexual Violence Victimization, Pornography Use, and Risky Sexual Behaviors.

Among adolescents, engagement in risky sexual behavior is an important public health concern. Research has begun to explore the impact of adolescents' online experiences with their social and behavioral health as approximately 95% of adolescents have access to a smartphone connected to the internet. However, little research has specifically examined how online experiences impact sexual risk behaviors among adolescence. To fill gaps in the existing research, the current study sought to investigate the association between two potential risk factors and three sexual risk behavior outcomes. We examined how experiencing cybersexual violence victimization (CVV) and using pornography during early adolescence was associated with condom use, birth control use, and use of alcohol and drugs before sex among U.S. high school students (n = 974). Additionally, we explored multiple forms of adult support as potential protective factors of sexual risk behaviors. Our findings suggest that CVV and porn use may be associated with risky sexual behaviors for some adolescents. In addition, parental monitoring and support from adults at school may be two ways to support healthy adolescent sexual development.

The effects of emotion and juvenile diagnoses on parole release decisions: An experimental approach.

Parole boards are often required to make many release recommendations after reviewing a substantial amount of information in a short timeframe. While making release decisions, parole board members might be motivated to sacrifice accuracy and, instead, use heuristics, such as their emotions. Emotions might increase the reliance on risk or threat related information, such as an inmate's mental illness status. The current study applies the appraisal tendency framework of emotion to assess the impact of emotion on parole decisions involving juvenile mental health diagnoses. Using a 3(emotion: anger, compassion, and control) x 4(mental illness: conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, depression, and control) factorial design, this study examined the extent to which mock parole board members' emotions impacted evaluations of inmates with juvenile mental illness diagnoses and subsequent release decisions. Results indicated that there was no effect of emotion on parole decisions. However, the inmates' mental illnesses did play a role in parole release decisions. Specifically, parole candidates with depression were released on parole at higher rates compared to conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and the control condition. Policy implications are discussed.

Antecedents of sibling aggression and bullying victimization: The parallel and serial contributions of depressive symptoms and substance use.

PURPOSE: Sibling aggression has been recognized as a common form of family violence. However, further research is needed to elucidate several antecedents of sibling aggression perpetration and bullying victimization, such as substance use and depressive symptoms. Also, more studies are needed to identify the mediating pathways of depressive symptoms and substance use, which could explain the association between bullying victimization and sibling aggression perpetration as well as the association between sibling aggression victimization and bullying victimization, controlling for exposure to family violence and demographic variables. The current study tested two separate mediational models guided by the displaced aggression theory and self-medication hypothesis. METHOD: The study used the Bullying, Sexual, and Dating Violence Trajectories From Early to Late Adolescence in the Midwestern United States, 2007-2013 dataset. The original sample consisted of 1162 middle school students who were initially surveyed and followed into three high schools. The first wave was used, which included a sample of 1101 adolescents. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to first examine whether bullying victimization was associated with sibling aggression perpetration. Then another model was conducted to test whether sibling aggression victimization was associated with bullying victimization. RESULTS: In the first model, results suggest that bullying victimization is positively associated with sibling aggression. Mediation results indicated depressive symptoms and substance use serially mediated the relationship between bullying victimization and sibling aggression. In the second model, results suggest that sibling aggression victimization is positively associated with bullying victimization. Parallel mediation results indicated that depressive symptoms alone explained the association between sibling aggression victimization and bullying victimization. Finally, serial mediation results indicated that depressive symptoms and substance use serially mediated the association between sibling aggression victimization and bullying victimization. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include self-report measures and cross-sectional design; therefore, we could not make casual inferences. CONCLUSION: The implications of these findings suggest the need for continued attention to school-based bully prevention efforts and family interventions. Such efforts could result in a significant reduction in bullying victimization and sibling aggression.

Depression and Substance Use as Consequences of Exposure to Family Violence: A Moderation Mediation and Self-Medication Hypothesis Study.

Ample evidence exists suggesting that exposure to family violence leads to substance use and this relationship is moderated by gender; however, much is still unknown of the underlying mechanism of this relationship. Thus, the current study first examined whether exposure to family violence was associated with substance use. Then consistent with the self-medication hypothesis, we tested whether depressive symptoms mediated the relations between exposure to family violence and substance use. Finally, we examined the moderating effect of gender on the relationships among exposure to family violence and depressive symptoms/substance use (N = 1,850). Results suggest that exposure to family violence positively associated with substance use. Mediation results revealed that depressive symptoms explained the relationship between exposure to family violence and substance use. Moderation results indicated that males who were exposed to family violence were more likely to endorse depressive symptoms and more likely to use substances while controlling for sibling aggression victimization. This study provides new insight into the internalizing and externalizing symptoms of exposure to family violence, specifically for male adolescents. Implications are discussed.

The association between exposure to community violence and somatic symptoms through bullying victimization among African American adolescents in Chicago: A developmental trauma approach.

BACKGROUND: The developmental trauma theory suggests that traumatic events impede the ability of individuals to form interpersonal relationships, impair cognition, affect, and increase the vulnerability of adolescents to develop psychopathology. However, few studies have examined the applicability of this theory among African American adolescents who were exposed to community violence and adverse outcomes, including bullying victimization and somatic symptoms. AIMS: Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to first test the association between exposure to community violence and somatic symptoms. Then, we explored whether bullying victimization mediated the relationship between exposure to community violence and somatic symptoms while controlling for gender differences and substance use (n = 622). RESULTS: Results suggest that exposure to community violence is positively associated with somatic symptoms. Moreover, the association between exposure to community violence and somatic symptoms was mediated by bullying victimization. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These results were consistent with the developmental trauma theory, such that trauma could increase the vulnerability for future victimization, thus, leading to somatic symptoms. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Parental Criticism and Depressive Symptoms: The Contribution of Active Coping Among African American Adolescents : Prairie View A&M University.

The present study examined whether parental criticism, active coping, and peer support associated with depressive symptoms. Then using two mediation models, this study explored whether parental criticism related to depressive symptoms through active coping while controlling for peer support among African American Adolescents (N = 883). Results from a multiple regression analysis revealed that maternal and paternal criticism positively associated with depressive symptoms in contrast to active coping and peer support. In the first mediation analysis, active coping explained the relationship between maternal criticism and depressive symptoms. In the second mediation analysis, active coping did not explain the relationship between paternal criticism and depressive symptoms. These results suggest that mental health practitioners should consider incorporating coping techniques in therapy, specifically while treating African American adolescents. Clinical, family, and community implications are discussed.

Examining the relationships between cyberbullying, relational victimization, and family support on depressive symptoms and substance use among adolescents.

The present study examined whether cyberbullying, relational victimization, and family support were associated with depressive symptoms and substance use among adolescents (N = 1232). A path analysis revealed that cyberbullying, relational victimization, and family support were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Also, cyberbullying and relational victimization was positively related to substance use, whereas family support was not statistically predictive of substance use. This study highlights preventive interventions for cyberbullying, relational victimization, and family support in schools and families.

The Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Mental Illness, and Personality Differences on Attitudes Toward Self-Efficacy Among Females on Parole/Probation.

Female offenders released from prison often face challenges within the community such as lack of employment, inconsistent attendance in substance use treatment, and complying with parole and probation conditions, which typically decreases their self-efficacy and motivation to refrain from reoffending. Despite this, much is still unknown of psychological factors that could impact female offenders' attitudes toward self-efficacy, such as mental illness symptoms, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and personality differences. Thus, this cross-sectional study explored whether mental illness symptoms, ACEs, and personality differences were associated with attitudes toward self-efficacy (N = 398). Results suggest that mental illness symptoms, ACEs, and neuroticism negatively associated with attitudes toward self-efficacy in contrast to extraversion and conscientiousness. Parole/probation reentry and therapeutic implications are discussed.

Does Conduct, Oppositional Defiant, and Panic Disorder Symptoms Associate with Suicidal Ideations Among African American Adolescents?

Previous studies suggest that mental illness symptoms among adolescents, such as conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and panic disorder symptoms often associate with suicidal ideations. Despite this, few studies have examined whether these mental illness symptoms associate with suicidal ideations among African American adolescents. To address these limitations, the current study examined whether conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and panic disorder symptoms associated with suicidal ideations (N = 261). Using binominal logistic regression, results suggest that conduct disorder symptoms were associated with a higher likelihood of endorsing suicidal ideations than oppositional defiant disorder symptoms. Finally, panic disorder symptoms and gender differences were not associated with suicidal ideations. Preventive efforts and psychotherapy implications are discussed.

Latent Class Analysis of Victimization Patterns and Associated Protective Factors among LGBTQ Youth.

Youth victimization in schools remains a fervent public health issue, despite increased awareness of this issue, and this is especially true for marginalized populations like lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth. Youth violence has been studied widely, but less research has sought to understand factors protective of violence victimization, particularly protective factors shared across multiple forms of violence. In the current study, we utilized latent class analysis to test patterns of three types of victimization: peer victimization (PV), homophobic name-calling victimization (HNCV), and sexual harassment victimization (SHV). In addition, we tested protective factors associated with experiencing these types of violence. Our sample included 4778 9-11th graders in the United States, of which about 15% identified as LGBTQ. Three unique classes of victimization emerged, suggesting that concurrent forms of violence occur among some groups of adolescents. LGBTQ youth were more likely to be members of classes which demonstrated higher levels of victimization. Consistent with previous literature, medical access, counseling access, family support, peer support, and spirituality emerged as significant protective factors associated with a lower risk of victimization. We discuss the implications of our findings with specific attention to protecting the wellbeing of SGM youth.

Parental support, marital conflict, and stress as predictors of depressive symptoms among African American adolescents.

Given the increase of depressive symptoms among adolescents, it is essential to investigate familial and temperamental correlates of depressive symptoms such as parental support, marital conflict, and stress. Thus, using a cross-sectional design, the current study examined whether parental support, marital conflict, and stress predicted depressive symptoms. Then, using structural equation modeling, this study tested whether stress mediated the relationships among parental support, marital conflict, and depressive symptoms among African American adolescents while controlling for sex (N = 883). Results suggest that maternal support negatively related to depressive symptoms in contrast to stress and marital conflict. However, paternal support and sex were not statistically associated with depressive symptoms. Mediation results suggest that stress explained the relationships among parental support, marital conflict, and depressive symptoms. Family therapy and depression reduction implications are discussed.

Release or Denial: Evaluating the Roles of Emotion and Risk in Parole Decisions.

Parole boards often incorporate numerous factors when making release decisions. These factors are typically related to the inmates' case files. However, in some instances, parole boards' decisions are influenced by factors outside of the case files, sometimes referred to as extra-legal factors. According to the emotion as social information model, emotion can communicate specific messages to others, and in this case, parole board members might unknowingly incorporate their own emotions and inmates' emotional displays into their decisions. The current study examines the role of parole board member and inmate emotional expressions as predictors of parole release decisions. Parole hearings were coded for emotion, parole board and inmate gender, supporter presence, and risk scores. Overall, risk scores and parole board members' emotions predicted release decisions. Higher risk scores were associated with a lower likelihood of release, and inmates' negative emotion was related to a lower likelihood of release. Implications are discussed.

Actor-observer asymmetry in perceptions of parole board release decisions.

In the current study, the actor-observer effect is tested with both mock parole board members and the public evaluating the responsibility of parole board members for a decision resulting in a parolee reoffending and committing a murder. Participants (two samples with a combined N = 1317) were randomly assigned to act as a mock parole board member and make a decision (which ended in the parolee reoffending) or as a member of the public who read a story about the same parole decision and outcome. Findings suggest that the traditional actor-observer asymmetry emerged across blame and responsibility concepts, emotion and moral judgments. Overall, the public held harsher judgments than the mock parole board members. Implications regarding self-enhancement, methodology and attribution theory are discussed.