Risky Behavior Among Caribbean and African Adolescents in England: How Do They Compare to Other Ethnic Groups?

• In Event: 60.062 - Learning From African and Caribbean Students' and Teachers' Experiences

Abstract

The goal of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the growth curves for risky behavior among adolescents from different ethnic groups in England. Data comes from the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE) database (N=15,770). Results demonstrate that Black Caribbean adolescents are more similar in their levels of engagement in risky behavior as compared to white adolescents. The fact that Black Caribbean remains stigmatized even though they are similar in behavior to white adolescents supports the notion that black minority groups continue to struggle against institutionalized racism in England. Results affirm the need for policy makers to recognize ethnic group membership to make more informed decisions about ethnic groups rather than by aggregates of race.

Author

• Anica G. Bowe, Oakland University