Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117549

Murelle G. Harrison, PhD, Department of Psychology, Southern University, 317 Blanks Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70813, (225) 771-2990, mgharripsy@aol.com

Louisiana has many challenges as it ranks first in poverty with 43 percent of its population living below 200% poverty level compared to the national average of 31 percent. Even more appalling is that racial disparities show stark differences between African American and Caucasian children. Rural families are more at risk for poverty and have been omitted from research. Research links poverty to many social ills such as substance abuse, academic failure, and related issues. The current research focuses on precursors to substance use focusing on competence. Four hundred African American families with 12-year old first borns and residing in six rural parishes in Louisiana were randomly selected to participate in the study. Significant bivariate correlations for the mothers' and instructors' ratings of competence ranged from .09 to -.50. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were used to compute the ordinary least squares regression (OLS) in several stages using Maternal Protective Factors (MP), Maternal Risk Factors (MR), Child Protective Factors (CP), Child Risk Factors (CR), Family Protective Factors (FP), and Family Risk Factors (FR) as predictor variables. Independent variables that contributed to mothers' and teachers' perceptions of their child's cognitive competence were the child's self-control, life orientation, delinquency, irritability and aggressiveness. Child's self-control, life orientation, irritability and aggressiveness also significantly influenced instructor's perception of a child's cognitive competence, along with attention span, deviant peer affiliation and high intensity pleasure. These findings provide support for early intervention to prevent substance use among rural African American adolescents.

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