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Patterns of adolescent involvement in problem behaviors: Relationship to self‐efficacy, social competence, and life events
Author(s) -
Chung HyunHee,
Elias Maurice
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
american journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.113
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1573-2770
pISSN - 0091-0562
DOI - 10.1007/bf02511034
Subject(s) - psychology , health psychology , self efficacy , social competence , competence (human resources) , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , public health , social psychology , social change , medicine , nursing , economics , economic growth
Using a sample of 556 adolescents from a suburban community, patterns of various adolescent problem behaviors (e.g., delinquent behavior, smoking, use of alcohol or drugs) and their links to self‐efficacy, social competence, and life events were examined. Cluster analysis was conducted to identify four subgroups of adolescents who showed distinct patterns of problem behaviors. These clusters were compared on the measures of self‐efficacy, social competence, and life events. Overall results suggest there are meaningful links between adolescents’ problem behavior patterns and self‐efficacy, the amount and quality of participation in various after school activities, and life events. For example, a subgroup of adolescents who showed uniformly low prevalence of all problem behaviors reported more positive academic self‐efficacy, more active participation in sports and nonsports activities, more positive life events, and fewer negative events than adolescents who were involved in multiple problem behaviors. Implications for prevention and future research on adolescent problem behaviors are discussed.