Citation

Andretta JR, Worrell FC, Ramirez AM, Barnes ME, Odom T, Woodland MH. Cultur. Divers. Ethnic Minor. Psychol. 2015; 22(3): 341-349.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues; American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/cdp0000053

PMID

26168163

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to propose and examine a pathway to emotional distress in African Americans with juvenile court contact (N = 213; Male = 71%; MAge = 15, SDAge = 1.47).

METHOD: The model included direct and indirect effects of parent attachment and empathy, as well as the direct effects of pro-social and aggressive behavior, on emotional distress, CFI =.99, TLI =.95, χ2(1) = 2.60 p =.11, and RMSEA =.09.

RESULTS: This model explained 49% of variability of scores for emotional distress. Overall, aggressive behavior had the strongest relationship with emotional distress (β =.63), followed by parent attachment (β = -.38). In contrast, empathy (β =.12) and pro-social behavior (β =.17) were not related to emotional distress scores. A second model that included males and females simultaneously, without equality constraints, revealed substantive gender differences, CFI =.99, TLI =.91, χ2(2) = 4.63 p =.10, and RMSEA =.11.

CONCLUSIONS: Results are discussed in the context of therapeutic jurisprudence, and recommendations are proposed for providers of court-ordered interventions (i.e., therapy and probation supervision). (PsycINFO Database Record

Language: en