Search

The present study examined whether having had an incarcerated adult family member was associated with youth bullying perpetration. The study also examined whether exposure to delinquent peers’ norms, trauma, and externalizing behaviors mediated the link between adult family member’s incarceration and bullying perpetration. The study sample consisted of 638 African American adolescents, aged 13 to 21, in Chicago’s Southside. Major findings indicated that 46.8% of the study participants reported bullying perpetration (i.e., at least 1 to 2 times in the past 30 days). Moreover, an adult family member’s incarceration history was found to be positively associated with having peers who endorsed delinquent norms, trauma, and externalizing behaviors, which were linked to youth’s bullying perpetration. Programs addressing youth bullying need to consider the family dynamics.

Objective:Investigators have examined the moderating effects of young people’s relationships with parents, teachers, and peers on victimization and on adverse outcomes such as drug use. However, the moderating influence of religious affiliation on the association between peer victimization and illicit drug use, the focus of this paper, has seldom been examined. Method:Participants were 638 low-income African American youth ages 12–22 (mean age = 15.8; 54% female and 46% male) in Chicago, IL. We conducted hierarchical logistic regression analyses to examine the moderating effect of religious affiliation on the relationship between peer victimization and illicit drug use. Results:Youths who had been victimized by peers were at elevated risk for illicit drug use. Victimized peers who reported a religious affiliation or who attended religious services were less likely to use illicit drugs than other youths. Involvement in prayer or meditation per se did not influence the relationship between peer victimization and illicit drug use. Conclusions:Affiliation and participation in religious services may be important intervention points in efforts to prevent or reduce illicit drug use.