Citation

Nebbitt VE, Lambert SF. J. Community Psychol. 2009; 37(2): 268-280.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jcop.20292

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study examines individual, social, and contextual correlates of anxiety sensitivity among African American adolescents living in public housing. The study also reports prevalence of anxiety sensitivity among this population of youth. Participants included 238 African American adolescents (mean age=15.6) living in three public housing developments in a large Midwest city. These adolescents reported about their anxiety sensitivity, antisocial behavior, parental monitoring, affiliation with delinquent peers, and perceptions of their neighborhood. The study uses a cross-sectional research design. Age and gender differences were not detected for anxiety sensitivity. Results indicate a significant association between neighborhood hazard and anxiety sensitivity. This association was exacerbated by exposure to delinquent peers. Parental monitoring and older age attenuated the relationship between neighborhood hazard and anxiety sensitivity. Findings suggest that interventions to prevent or ameliorate anxiety sensitivity 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. Implications for clinical practice are discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.