Research That Matters (January 17 - 20, 2008)

Purpose: Anxiety disorders have been identified as a salient public health concern for urban African American youth. Available epidemiological data suggest that youth of color have higher rates of anxiety disorders than White youth and rates of anxiety among youth of color may persist even after controlling for age and SES. However, research on anxiety among African American adolescents is still rare, limiting our understanding of risks for and the manifestation of anxiety symptoms in these youth. One factor identified in the etiology of anxiety disorder is anxiety sensitivity (AS). Research has documented that AS distinguishes youth with anxiety disorders from those without and predicts fear and panic symptoms in African American adolescents. Thus, understanding correlates of AS in African American youth is important to inform interventions to prevent anxiety disorders. The purpose of this study is to examine the influences of neighborhood characteristics, parental behaviors, peer affiliates, and delinquent behavior on AS. Two research questions were examined: 1) To what extent does AS exist among African American adolescents living in public housing?; (2) Is the experience of living in public housing associated with AS among African American adolescents? Methods: Participants included 238 African American adolescents ages 13 to 19 (mean age = 15.6) living in three public housing developments in a Midwest city. Youth were recruited from a community center and from an alternative high school located adjacent the housing developments. After parental consent and youth assent were obtained, youth met at a community center for data collection. African American graduate students implemented the survey. The survey was composed of several standardized measures previously used among African American youth. The measures assessed AS, delinquent behavior, parental monitoring, exposure to delinquent peers, and perceptions of housing developments. The study used purposive sampling and a cross-sectional research design. Analyses included univariate, bivariate and hierarchical regression. Results: The overall regression model was significant [F(8, 229) = 9.76, p <. .001] and explained 23% of the variance in AS. Multivariate results indicate significant positive associations between neighborhood hazard, delinquent behavior and exposure to delinquent peers, and AS. These correlates explained a unique 7 percent, 7 percent and 6 percent of the variance in AS, respectively. Multivariate results also indicate a significant negative association between parental encouragement and AS, which explained a unique 4 percent of the variance in AS. Gender, age and social cohesion were not related to AS. Conclusions: Three key findings glean from this exploration. First, AS did not differ by age and gender. Second, neighborhood hazard, delinquent behavior and exposure to delinquent peers were consistent positive correlates of AS. Third, the promotive effects of parental encouragement dissipate when peers and antisocial behavior are added to the model. Findings suggest that interventions to prevent or ameliorate AS among African American adolescents living in public housing must not only focus on reducing neighborhood risk factors but also on enhancing the protective factors available to the youth. Preventative interventions should also focus on strengthening parent / child relationships.