How are individual risk factors affected by gang involvement process in adolescents?: a piecewise growth curve modeling application

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Date
2020-12
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University of Alabama Libraries
Abstract

A single growth profile may not be enough to reflect changes in an outcome variable across time. As an alternative method for the unconditional growth model, the piecewise growth model was developed and used for presenting changes in multiple developmental stages and important life events of individuals.A large longitudinal data set was obtained to apply the model and analyze how are alcohol use, marijuana use and sexual intercourse affected by adolescent gang involvement. In the study, piecewise longitudinal growth model set the identified youth gang involvement as the cut point and the recency and frequency of the problem behavior (risk factor) as the outcome variable. The model determined whether significant changes in problem behaviors exist between no gang involvement and the identified gang involvement stages. Gender differences was also included in the model. Results showed the recency and frequency of alcohol use, marijuana use, and sexual intercourse significantly increased and indicated big jumps when there is an identified gang involvement for both genders from age 10 to 18. Overall, the piecewise growth model provided better model fitting and estimation on alcohol use, marijuana use and sexual intercourse when there is an identifies adolescent gang involvement. The piecewise model presented better image of the trajectories. The study showed that piecewise model improved the model compare to the unconditional growth model when important life events, transitional periods, and developmental stages are taken into consideration.

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Electronic Thesis or Dissertation
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Education
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