AN ECOLOGICAL MODEL OF EXTERNALIZING BEHAVIORS IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS - NO FAMILY IS AN ISLAND

This study examined the utility of a two-step ecological model in pred icting externalizing behavior among African-American seventh and eight h graders. It was predicted that the exosystem variables of parental w ork environment and parental social support would have an indirect imp act on externalizing by influencing the microsystem variables of paren tal warmth, parental use of restrictive control, and conflict within t he family. Path analysis indicated that this two-step model adequately fit the data. An additional set of analyses showed that the complete ecological model was a better fit than a more restricted model in whic h exosystem variables were excluded. The potential value of an ecologi cal model of development for studying ethnic minority youth and famili es is discussed.