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The objective of this study is to compare suicidal thoughts amongst American Indian/Alaskan Native's (AI/AN) to a non-AI/AN comparison group, using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally-representative, longitudinal study. At wave one a statistical difference is present between NA/AN and comparisons, but at wave four the difference is no longer significant. Using Agnew’s General Strain theory as a theoretical framework, factors that may contribute to these differences addressed in this study include: alcohol abuse, exposure to suicidal behavior of friends and family, depression, and weapon access. Implications for prevention and treatment are discussed.

Despite growing in numbers very quickly in the last half century, interracial marriage remains a disproportionately small segment of all marriages. Much research has been conducted investigating reasons for participation in interracial relationships, and the forces which impede those relationships. Using longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), I investigated several theories which had previously been researched using data of inferior quality, or only in the context of marriage relationships. I found that macrostructural and contact theories of race relations are supported strongly, and that multiracial identity has a very strong positive effect on the log odds of participation in an interracial relationship. More research is necessary to gain a full sociological understanding of interracial relationship participation as adolescents age and become young adults.

abstract: A large body of research links victimization to various harms. Yet it remains unclear how the effects of victimization vary over the life course, or why some victims are more likely to experience negative outcomes than others. Accordingly, this study seeks to advance the literature and inform victim service interventions by examining the effects of violent victimization and social ties on multiple behavioral, psychological, and health-related outcomes across three distinct stages of the life course: adolescence, early adulthood, and adulthood. Specifically, I ask two primary questions: 1) are the consequences of victimization age-graded? And 2) are the effects of social ties in mitigating the consequences of victimization age-graded? Existing data from Waves I (1994-1995), III (2001-2002), and IV (2008-2009) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) are used. The Add Health is a nationally-representative sample of over 20,000 American adolescents enrolled in middle and high school during the 1994-1995 school year. On average, respondents are 15 years of age at Wave I (11-18 years), 22 years of age at Wave III (ranging from 18 to 26 years), and 29 years of age at Wave IV (ranging from 24 to 32 years). Multivariate regression models (e.g., ordinary least-squares, logistic, and negative binomial models) are used to assess the effects of violent victimization on the various behavioral, social, psychological, and health-related outcomes at each wave of data. Two-stage sample selection models are estimated to examine whether social ties explain variation in these outcomes among a subsample of victims at each stage of the life course. The results indicate that the negative consequences of victimization vary considerably across different stages of the life course, and that the spectrum of negative outcomes linked to victimization narrows into adulthood. The effects of social ties appear to be age-graded as well, where ties are more protective for victims of violence in adolescence and adulthood than they are in early adulthood. These patterns of findings are discussed in light of their implications for continued theoretical development, future empirical research, and the creation of public policy concerning victimization. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Criminology and Criminal Justice 2015

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The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health was used to test predictions from life history theory. It was hypothesized that (1) in young adulthood an emerging life history strategy would exist as a common factor underlying many life history traits (e.g., health, relationship stability, and economic success), (2) both environmental harshness and unpredictability would account for unique variance in expression of adolescent and young adult life history strategies, and (3) adolescent life history traits would predict young adult life history strategy. These predictions were supported. The current findings suggest that the environmental parameters of harshness and unpredictability have concurrent effects on life history development in adolescence, as well as longitudinal effects into young adulthood. In addition, life history traits appear to be stable across developmental time from adolescence into young adulthood.

The literature has well-documented the deleterious effect of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use on adolescent development and future outcomes. Despite these devastating results, some adolescents are able to attain high achievement as adults, despite their earlier AOD use. Secondary quantitative analyses were conducted on nationally-representative data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Longitudinal data, collected at Wave I (1994-1995), and Wave IV (2007-2008), were analyzed from a sample of 4,266 American high school students between the ages of 13-19 years. The majority of high school students in the sample self-reported AOD use (n=2,833, 66.4%), compared to those students who self-reported non-AOD-use (n=1,433, 33.6%). Statistically significant findings indicated that with the exception of household income, non-AOD-using adolescents experienced more favorable outcomes with regard to educational attainment, occupational status, and involvement with the criminal justice system when compared to their AOD-using counterparts. In addition, through ordinal and binomial logistic regressions, the present study identified risk and protective factors affecting the adult outcomes of adolescents who used AODs. Gender, age, grade level, importance of religion, frequency of prayer, fighting, suspensions, expulsions, and happiness in neighborhood were statistically significant in predicting educational attainment. Grade level and feeling safe in school were found to be statistically significant in predicting occupational status. Gender, fighting, suspensions, and alcohol use by best friends were statistically significant in predicting involvement with the criminal justice system.