Violence among urban African American youths: An analysis of environmental and behavioral risk factorsWilliams, James Herbert; Stiffman, Arlene Rubin; O'Neal, John Leslie
1998 Social Work Research
doi: 10.1093/swr/22.1.3
This study investigated environmental and behavioral risk factors as predictors of involvement in violent behavior among African American youths. Data from 684 African American youths ages 14 to 17, who participated in interviews by the Youth Services Project in St. Louis, Missouri, were used in these analyses. Forty percent of the variance in African American youths' involvement in violent behavior was predicted by the environmental risk factors of exposure to violence, deteriorated school environment, negative peer environment, and traumatic experiences and by the behavioral risk factors of alcohol use and substance use. Gender differences in risk factors were also explored. The results suggest that preventive interventions should have an ecological approach, including a community and individual focus.
The declining economic fortunes of children in comparison to adults and elderly peopleOzawa, Martha N.; Kim, Rebecca Y.
1998 Social Work Research
doi: 10.1093/swr/22.1.14
To what extent have children lost economic ground, and why? This article presents findings from a study comparing the income status of children with that of adults and elderly people in 1969, 1979, and 1989. From 1969 to 1989 children lost ground economically to the other two age groups, at the points of both pretransfer and posttransfer income distribution, as a result of strong economic, demographic, and social policy forces that are beyond the sphere of welfare reform. As the United States embarks on a major change in social policy on income transfers for low-income families and their children, policymakers need to be aware of the declining economic fortunes of children and the causes, if they intend to take steps to deal with it.
The effect of Medicaid coverage on use of health services by low-income elderly peopleLum, Yat-sang; Chang, Hong-jer
1998 Social Work Research
doi: 10.1093/swr/22.1.31
This study examined the effect of Medicaid coverage on the use of health services among low-income elderly people in different racial, ethnic, and gender groups. Using a national representative sample of 1,542 low-income elderly people from the first wave of the Asset and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old study, we estimated a two-part model for health services use. The results showed that Medicaid coverage was positively associated with the use of health services for low-income elderly people and that the association varied by race, ethnicity, and gender. The study concluded that the Medicaid program did not work equally well for low-income elderly people from different racial, ethnic, and gender groups.
Alcohol expectancies and excessive drinking contexts in young adultsO'Hare, Thomas
1998 Social Work Research
doi: 10.1093/swr/22.1.44
Despite the growth of alcohol expectancy research, few investigations have examined the association between beliefs in the reinforcing effects of alcohol and situations in which young people drink excessively. The current study of 315 youthful drinkers examined the relationship between three alcohol expectancies (increased social assertiveness, tension reduction, and enhanced sexual pleasure), as measured by the Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire, and three drinking situation subscales (convivial, personal-intimate, and negative coping) from the Drinking Context Scale. MANOVA analysis showed significant main effects for the three expectancy measures. Univariate results showed that expectancies of social assertiveness and tension reduction varied directly with all three excessive drinking contexts. The expectancy of enhanced sexual pleasure, however, varied significantly with personal-intimate drinking only. Practice implications with youthful drinkers are discussed.