141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

287215
Effects of neighborhood social and structural characteristics on intra-ethnic disparities in youth violence among latinos

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 4:50 PM - 5:10 PM

Lorena Estrada-Martinez, PhD, MPH , Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Saras Chung, MSW , Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Molly Metzger, PhD , Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Sheretta Butler-Barnes, PhD , Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Previous studies that have examined risk of youth violence among Latinos are hampered by a systemic lack of precision, both in grouping all Latinos together without regard to different ethnic subgroups, and in focusing on standardized neighborhood disadvantage measures that do not differentiate between economic and racial indicators, nor include indicators of other important neighborhood structural and social factors. Based on social disorganization and segmented assimilation theories, this study utilized the In-Home and Contextual data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to examine the impact of exposure to key indicators of economic, racial/ethnic, social, and structural neighborhood dimensions previously linked to the risk of violent behaviors. It focused on understanding intra-ethnic and inter-ethnic patterns of risk and protection, with particular emphasis on Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and other Latino adolescents in the United States. Results point to differences in risk for violent behavior across subgroups, as well as unique patterns of influence by subgroup. Intervention and policy implications will be discussed.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Diversity and culture
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe differences in risk for moderate and severe violent behaviors across multiple Latino ethnic subgroups. Evaluate the relative contribution of characteristics across multiple neighborhood domains previously linked to violent behaviors in the general literature. Identify differences and similarities of effects among Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and other Latino youth.

Keywords: Adolescents, Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am in the main investigator of this study and conducted data analysis and interpretation of results.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.