Societies 2015, 5(1), 151-170; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc5010151
Gender Differences in Longitudinal Links between Neighborhood Fear, Parental Support, and Depression among African American Emerging Adults
Shervin Assari 1,2,3,*
, Jocelyn R. Smith 2, Cleopatra Howard Caldwell 2,3 and Marc A. Zimmerman 3,4
, Jocelyn R. Smith 2, Cleopatra Howard Caldwell 2,3 and Marc A. Zimmerman 3,4
1
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2700, USA
2
Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture and Health, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA
3
Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA
4
Youth Violence Prevention Center, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Joanne Savage
Received: 4 July 2014 / Accepted: 27 January 2015 / Published: 16 March 2015
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parenting, Aggressive Behavior in Children, and Our Violent World)
Abstract
The transition to adulthood is a developmental period marked by increased stress, especially among African Americans. In addition to stress related to emerging adulthood, neighborhood fear may contribute to depressive symptoms for African Americans. We examined gender differences in longitudinal associations between changes in perceived neighborhood fear, parental support, and depressive symptoms among African American youth who were in transition to adulthood. Five hundred and thirteen African American youths (235 males and 278 females) were included in the study. An increase in perceived neighborhood fear was associated with an increase in depressive symptoms, and change in perceived maternal support was predictive of depressive symptoms among males, but not females. The findings suggest that policies and programs should help parents provide support to young adult children who live in violent neighborhoods as a strategy to prevent depressive symptoms during emerging adulthood. View Full-TextKeywords:
violence; depression; parenting; African Americans; gender; emerging adulthood
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Assari, S.; Smith, J.R.; Caldwell, C.H.; Zimmerman, M.A. Gender Differences in Longitudinal Links between Neighborhood Fear, Parental Support, and Depression among African American Emerging Adults. Societies 2015, 5, 151-170.
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