Prior research on neighborhood effects has focused on structural characteristics such as socioeconomic disadvantage, ethnic heterogeneity, and residential instability, giving less attention to the cultural factors that may influence adolescent behaviors. One of the prominent studies on oppositional culture was conducted by Elijah Anderson (1990, 1999). He observed that structural conditions in disadvantaged neighborhoods created an oppositional culture that endorsed negative behaviors such as violence and early sexual activity. Most research has examined how gaining respect--a key aspect of the oppositional culture--leads to violence, but it has not explored adolescent male sexual activity as an outcome. This research will fill a void in the literature by addressing four research questions. The first two questions will assess whether gaining respect from peers is a significant predictor of adolescent male sexual activity and whether it varies by race. The second set of questions will assess whether the proposed effect of gaining respect from peers on adolescent male sexual activity is moderated by neighborhood disadvantage and whether it varies by race. Using data for male adolescents from Waves I and II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (AddHealth), the results showed that the need to gain peer respect increased the likelihood of adolescent males becoming sexually active, but there were no significant racial differences in this relationship. Further, gaining peer respect's effect on adolescent male sexual behaviors was not stronger in neighborhoods with higher levels of disadvantage, nor were there significant race differences. Overall, there was limited support observed for the oppositional culture perspective. / A Dissertation submitted to the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy. / Fall Semester, 2011. / July 7, 2011. / Adolescent Male Sexual Activity, Neighborhood Context, Oppositional Culture / Includes bibliographical references. / Eric A. Stewart, Professor Directing Dissertation; Karin L. Brewster, University Representative; Daniel P. Mears, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_182931 |
| Contributors | Jensen, Elise M. (Elise Maria) (authoraut), Stewart, Eric A. (professor directing dissertation), Brewster, Karin L. (university representative), Mears, Daniel P. (committee member), College of Criminology and Criminal Justice (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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