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A Twelve‐Year Longitudinal Analysis of Positive Youth Development Among Rural African American Males
Author(s) -
Murry Velma M.,
Berkel Cady,
Simons Ronald L.,
Simons Leslie G.,
Gibbons Frederick X.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of research on adolescence
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.342
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1532-7795
pISSN - 1050-8392
DOI - 10.1111/jora.12129
Subject(s) - prosocial behavior , psychology , positive youth development , psychological intervention , developmental psychology , competence (human resources) , adolescent development , longitudinal study , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , social psychology , clinical psychology , medicine , family medicine , pathology , psychiatry
The positive youth development model was explored on a sample of 378 rural African American males to determine its usefulness in predicting HIV‐related risk behaviors. Confidence in ability to self‐regulate and sense of competence to be successful in the future were associated with having caring, involved, vigilant parents. Confident, competent males were more likely to connect with prosocial peers, which in turn provided opportunities to reinforce norms and values to dissuade and avoid engaging in risky behaviors. Growth mixture modeling results identified two subgroups with distinct developmental trajectories of risky behaviors. Group differences were associated with several components of positive youth development. Implications for future research and preventive interventions are discussed.