Abstract
This study examines gender differences in the association between environment and internalizing problems in a sample of predominately
African American schoolchildren. Internalizing problems was assessed using the Youth Self Report. Violence and alcohol and
other drug (AOD) exposure subscales were created using observational assessments of neighborhood blocks. Logistic regression
models were used to assess the relationship between neighborhood environment and internalizing problems. For each AOD item
present on the block the odds of internalizing problems among girls increased by 17% (OR = 1.17, CI: 1.01, 1.35, P = 0.039). The relationship was not significant among boys. Violence exposure did not predict internalizing problems in boys
or girls. These preliminary findings suggest that primary school-aged girls’ emotional well-being is more negatively impacted
by deleterious environments. Future investigations will examine the relationship between deleterious neighborhood environments
and internalizing problems as the children age into adolescence.
African American schoolchildren. Internalizing problems was assessed using the Youth Self Report. Violence and alcohol and
other drug (AOD) exposure subscales were created using observational assessments of neighborhood blocks. Logistic regression
models were used to assess the relationship between neighborhood environment and internalizing problems. For each AOD item
present on the block the odds of internalizing problems among girls increased by 17% (OR = 1.17, CI: 1.01, 1.35, P = 0.039). The relationship was not significant among boys. Violence exposure did not predict internalizing problems in boys
or girls. These preliminary findings suggest that primary school-aged girls’ emotional well-being is more negatively impacted
by deleterious environments. Future investigations will examine the relationship between deleterious neighborhood environments
and internalizing problems as the children age into adolescence.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-6
- DOI 10.1007/s10597-011-9379-8
- Authors
- Adam J. Milam, Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway St., Room 839, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- C. Debra Furr-Holden, Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway St., Room 839, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Damiya Whitaker, Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway St., Room 839, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Mieka Smart, Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway St., Room 839, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Philip Leaf, Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway St., Room 839, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Michele Cooley-Strickland, Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway St., Room 839, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Journal Community Mental Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-2789
- Print ISSN 0010-3853