RESUMEN
The authors investigated discrepancies in arrest rates between Black and White male juveniles by examining the role of early risk factors for arrest. Two hypotheses were evaluated: (a) Disproportionate minority arrest is due to increased exposure to early risk factors, and (b) a differential sensitivity to early risk factors contributes to disproportionate minority arrest. The study included 481 Black and White boys who were followed from childhood to early adulthood. A higher incidence of early risk factors accounted for racial differences related to any juvenile arrest, as well as differences in violence- and theft-related arrests. However, increased exposure to early risk factors did not explain race differences in drug-related arrests. Minimal support was found for the hypothesis that a differential sensitivity to risk factors accounts for disproportionate rate of minority male arrests. In sum, most racial discrepancies in juvenile male arrests were accounted for by an increased exposure to childhood risk factors. Specifically, Black boys were more likely to display early conduct problems and low academic achievement and experience poor parent-child communication, peer delinquency, and neighborhood problems, which increased their risk for juvenile arrest.
Asunto(s)
Población Negra/psicología , Delincuencia Juvenil/etnología , Delincuencia Juvenil/legislación & jurisprudencia , Población Blanca/psicología , Logro , Adolescente , Comunicación , Trastorno de la Conducta/diagnóstico , Trastorno de la Conducta/psicología , Carencia Cultural , Humanos , Estudios Longitudinales , Masculino , Relaciones Padres-Hijo , Grupo Paritario , Pennsylvania , Características de la Residencia , Factores de Riesgo , Medio Social , Identificación Social , Socialización , Detección de Abuso de Sustancias/legislación & jurisprudencia , Robo/etnología , Robo/legislación & jurisprudencia , Violencia/etnología , Violencia/legislación & jurisprudenciaRESUMEN
The current study examined the role of neighborhood disadvantage, perceived caregiver disapproval, and perceived peer disapproval in early initiation of substance use in a sample of 126 aggressive 9th graders (66% male; 79% African American). Findings suggested that perceived caregiver and peer disapproval as well as neighborhood disadvantage were associated with early substance use initiation. However, when associations were simultaneously examined, neighborhood disadvantage was the only factor related to early substance use initiation. Implications for findings are discussed.