Poster #178 - Systematic Review of the Effects of Neighborhood Asian, Black, and Latino Concentrations on Adolescent Adjustment

• In Event: 2-163 - Poster Session 08
  In Poster Session: PS 08 Section - Race, Ethnicity, Culture, Context

Integrative Statement

In recent decades, policymakers and researchers have shared a strong interest in how neighborhood environments affect youth development (Wilson, 1987). Though costs associated with high neighborhood concentrated poverty, especially in the domain of adolescent mental health problems like internalizing and externalizing, are documented, findings for neighborhood ethnic-racial concentrations are mixed (Leventhal et al., 2009). Some studies show that high concentrations of ethnic-racial minority groups in residential neighborhoods are associated with greater mental health problems (Frank et al, 2011) and others show that such concentrations predict fewer mental health problems (Hurd et al., 2012).

Multiple factors contribute to mixed findings. First, they may exist because ethnically and/or racially concentrated neighborhoods simultaneously constrain access to some developmental resources (for some bounded communities), and promote access to others (Garcia Coll et al., 1996). Thus, it is important to consider the ways in which theoretical constructs influence directions of findings. Variability in the neighborhood concentration variable (%Asian, %Black, %Latino), and variability in individual’s ethnic-racial and gender identifications may support mixed findings because each of these groups (and subgroups) have experienced different U.S. histories. Additionally, findings may be different for internalizing versus externalizing problems. Second, mixed findings may reflect empirical and design differences across studies. For example, scholars testing the effects of neighborhood ethnic-racial concentration variables in samples comprised of different ranges (e.g., 0-25%, 50 – 100%, 0-100%), may actually be testing very different hypotheses and research questions (White et al., 2018). Under diverse spatial operationalizations (e.g., census tracts) and modes of measurement (e.g., objective, subjective) differences might exist.

Systematic reviews are critical for exploring mixed findings (Card, 2012). We conduct a systematic review to examine how neighborhood concentrations of U.S. Latinos, Asians, or Blacks (e.g., % Latino) influence adolescent mental health and whether associations vary by theoretical and study design elements.

METHOD: Following procedures outlined by Card (2012), we conducted a systematic search in PsycInfo, Web of Science, and PubMed and retrieved 268 records. We also retrieved records from reference lists and from expert knowledge. We coded the records for identified theoretical and design elements and have conducted tests of inter-rater reliability (IRR) and codebook refinement to support initial evidence of IRR. We provide a partial list of coded variables and their descriptions (Table 1).

RESULTS & DISCUSSION: Forty records met inclusion criteria (Figure 1): 11 are dissertations and 29 are peer-reviewed published between 1996 and 2017. Preliminary analyses show that 41.6% examine both internalizing and externalizing outcomes, 50.0% examine only externalizing, and 8.3% examine only internalizing. We examined variability in the theoretical and design elements (Table 1) relative to whether study findings were promoting (i.e., neighborhood concentration variable was associated with few mental health problems), inhibiting (i.e., neighborhood concentration variable was associated with greater mental health problems), or null (i.e., neighborhood concentration variable was not related to mental health). We will also extract and compute effect sizes. Findings are discussed relative to understanding how neighborhood ethnic-racial concentrations may be promoting or inhibiting for the mental health of U.S. Asian, Black/African American, and Latino adolescents.

Authors

• Michelle Christine Pasco, Arizona State University
  Presenting Author

• Rebecca M. B. White, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Kevin M. Korous, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• José M. Causadias, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• M. Dalal Safa, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jenny Zhao, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Ana Maria Meléndez Guevara, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author