Abstract:
The puq)ose of this thesis is to test a model Hnking community disadvantage and
urbanicity factors to parenting variables (i.e., monitoring, warmth, and knowledge) and to
youth risk behavior (i.e., substance use and delinquency), measured both concurrently
and one year after the assessment of parenting variables. The model builds on the work
of Fletcher, Steinberg, and Williams-Wheeler (2004) but a) includes a more
comprehensive measure of SES than that conceptualized by Fletcher et al.; b) considers
whether the role of community disadvantage is indirectly as well as directly linked to
youth risk behavior, by way of its association with parenting variables; c) considers
whether level of community urbanicity plays a direct role in predicting both parenting
variables and risk behaviors, or whether its influence on risk behaviours is primarily
indirect through parenting variables. Both community disadvantage and urbanicity had
virtually no relation to parenting and risk behaviour variables. Results found for relations
of parenting variables and risk behaviour were similar to Fletcher et al. Although urban
youth are typically perceived as being more at risk for substance use and delinquency, no
evidence was found for a distinction between urban and rural youth within this sample.
Targeting risk behaviour prevention/reduction programs toward only urban youth,
therefore, is not supported by these findings.
