TY - JOUR PY - 2005// TI - Strength-Based Assessment of Rural African American Early Adolescents: Characteristics of Students in High and Low Groups on the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale JO - Journal of child and family studies A1 - Farmer, Thomas W. A1 - Clemmer, Jason T. A1 - Leung, Man-Chi A1 - Goforth, Jennifer B. A1 - Thompson, Jana H. A1 - Keagy, Kristin A1 - Boucher, Signe SP - 57 EP - 69 VL - 14 IS - 1 N2 - Early adolescents' strengths were examined in relation to factors that are associated with developmental risk or resilience in two rural low-income southern communities. The sample was comprised 279 students (101 boys, 178 girls), all of whom were African American and reflected the public school attendance of this community. Parent reports on the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale (BERS) were used to assess strengths. BERS scores were examined in relation to academic, behavioral, and social characteristics of participants. For girls, total strength scores on the BERS were positively associated with indices of high competence and negatively associated with problematic characteristics. For boys, high and low total strength scores differentiated between youth who did and did not have risks associated with externalizing behavior problems. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for assessment and prevention.

LA - SN - 1062-1024 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10826-005-1113-0 ID - ref1 ER -