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The current study aims to fill the existing research gaps by investigating the role of teacher care in protecting African American adolescents in under-resourced neighborhoods from negative outcomes of adverse life events. The study included 638 adolescents from four under-resourced neighborhoods in Chicago's Southside who were assessed to determine the moderating role of caring teachers on the relationship between adverse adolescent experiences and risky sexual behaviors, substance use, bullying perpetration, and violent behaviors. Caring teachers had a significant moderating effect on the association between adverse experiences and both bullying perpetration and violent behaviors. Adolescents who perceived their teachers as caring showed lower tendencies towards bullying and violence, even if they had adverse experiences. These results highlight the crucial role of teacher care in supporting African American adolescents from under-resourced neighborhoods who have experienced adverse life events. It emphasizes educators' role in shaping our youth's future, especially those facing adversity and at a crossroads in their lives. Plain language summary: Despite adverse life events, adolescents who perceived their teachers as caring were less at risk of engaging in bullying and violence. Caring teachers are especially important for African American adolescents in under-resourced neighborhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contextual risk factors, such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), have a significant impact on the mental health of Black youth. Surprisingly, few studies focus efforts specifically on Black youth. The present study investigates the influence of ACEs on psychological distress among Black youth. Additionally, guided by social cognitive theory, this study highlights emotional self-control as a protective mechanism against the negative consequences of ACEs. Our findings show that ACEs (T1) predicted psychological distress among Black youth a year later (T2). Emotional self-control emerged as a significant buffer of ACEs on the association with psychological distress. Thus, to prevent negative mental health outcomes for Black youth, it is imperative to focus prevention efforts on the crucial risk factors that affect healthy development. By working to increase emotional self-control among Black youth who suffered adverse childhood experiences, negative mental health outcomes over time can be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]