Poster #20 - Positive Developmental Outcomes in Multisystem Youth: The impact of Social Capital and Self-Esteem

• In Event: Poster Session 04

Abstract

Multisystem youth are broadly defined as children and youth who are simultaneously involved in foster care and the juvenile justice system (Felix, 2016; Wylie, 2014). Previous studies have identified several factors propelling foster youth involvement in the juvenile justice system such as family context, gender, ethnicity, race abuse, neglect, poverty, and socioeconomic status among others (Trejos & Noriega, 2019; Vidal et al., 2017). Similarly, studies have mostly focused on negative outcomes in multisystem youth documenting a myriad of challenges and negative outcomes (e.g., low academic achievement, sexual behaviors, poor mental health, delinquency, Herz et al.,2012; Masten et al., 2020) and have pointed out the overrepresentation of minority youth involved in multiple systems of care. Despite growing attention to multisystem youth’s challenges, the role of significant factors such as social capital and self-esteem on multisystem youth positive developmental outcomes continues to be understudied. Using a Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach that views adolescents as having resources to be developed rather than problems to be solved (Lerner et al., 2015), we assessed the associations among self-esteem (4 items; a=.89; Rosenberg, 1965), social capital (4 items; a=.78; Bankson & Zhou, 2002), self-efficacy to refuse sex (9 items; a=.80; Cecil & Pinkerton, 1998), and tolerance to deviance (10 items; a=.93; Jessor, 1987) across African American (N=172), Caucasian (N=336), and Hispanic (N=744) multisystem youth (Total N= 1,138, 16-21yrs; 49.7% female). This study was conducted in partnership with a non-governmental agency working with multisystem youth transition centers across Texas supported by a state grant. Results provided an acceptable model fit, χ2 (1032) =3549.329, p<.00, CFI =.90., TLI =.899, SRMR =.062, and RMSEA=.048, 90% CI [.046,.050]. In addition, social capital was significantly associated with self-esteem (B=.19, p<.00), self-efficacy to refuse sex (B=.24, p<.00), and tolerance to deviance (B=.18, p<.00). Self-esteem was significantly associated with self-efficacy to refuse sex (B=.31, p<.00) and tolerance to deviance (B=.24, p<.00).  Model fit for the SEM was identical to the model fit for the measurement model, χ2 (1032) =3549.329, p<.00, CFI =.90., TLI =.899, SRMR =.062, and RMSEA=.048, 90% CI [.046,.050]. To test for potential significant differences across African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic youth, chi-square difference test was used. The results provided evidence of no significant differences between Hispanics and African Americans Chi diff=.0921, p=.24, African American and Caucasians Chi diff=.083, p=.85, and Hispanic and Caucasians Chi diff=.065, p=.21, thus, suggesting that self-esteem and social capital positively impact developmental outcomes across multisystem youth despite of their race/ethnicity. Results from this study would inform foster care and juvenile justice professionals as well as other service providers and policymakers about enhancing self-esteem and social capital opportunities for multisystem youth as preventive measures to support healthy reproductive behaviors and reduce involvement in deviant activities. Furthermore, results from this study highlight the importance of using a strength-based and positive lens to assess developmental outcomes among multisystem youth instead of continuing to use a deficit perspective that perpetuates ethnic/racial bias and service and resource inequities among this underserved group of youth.

Authors

• Narges Hadi, Texas Tech University
  Presenting Author

• Rula Zaru, Texas Tech University

• Bradley R Fernandez, Texas Tech University

• Nicole Martin, Texas Tech University

• Kenneth Onyekachi Ugwu, Texas Tech University

• Shoshannah Bobritsky, Texas Tech University

• Elizabeth Trejos-Castillo, Texas Tech University