Direct, Mediated, Moderated, and Cumulative Relations between Neighborhood Characteristics and Adolescent Outcomes

• Published in: Adolescence Vol. 39; no. 153; pp. 121 - 144
• Main Authors: Meyers, Steven A, Miller, Cheryl
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Roslyn Heights, NY Libra Publishers 22-03-2004; Libra Publishers, Inc; Libra Publishers Incorporated
• Subjects: Academic achievement; Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult; Aged; Behavior Problems; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child development; Child Rearing; Demographic aspects; Developmental psychology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Influence; Male; Middle Aged; Neighborhood; Neighborhoods; Outcomes of Education; Parent Child Relations; Parent Participation; Parenting; Parents & parenting; Peer Group; Peer Influence; Peer relationships; Psychological aspects; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Residence Characteristics; Social Adjustment; Standardized Tests; Surveys and Questionnaires; Well Being; United States; Human; Social environment; Parental behavior; Existence condition; Socioeconomic status; Personality development; Personality; Parent child relation; Social development; Social interaction; Adolescent; Neighbourhood; Psychological well being
• ISSN: 0001-8449

Using data from the 1990 Survey of Children and Parents, we explored direct and indirect associations between neighborhood conditions and adolescents' well-being. Analyses of data from 348 parents and their 14- to 17-year-old children indicated that neighborhood characteristics were directly related to adolescent outcomes (i.e., psychological adjustment and school problems). Second, parenting behaviors and peer characteristics significantly mediated this association. Third, the relative adaptiveness of parenting behaviors and peer attributes was contingent on neighborhood characteristics. Finally, neighborhood, parenting, and peer variables each had a unique contribution to adolescent outcomes; thus, stress across these domains was additive and posed cumulative risk for adolescents' well-being. (Includes Tables and Bibliography.)