DIFFERENCES IN STRESSORS EXPERIENCED BY URBAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN, WHITE, AND HISPANIC CHILDREN

The frequency of occurrence of 30 stressful life events and circumstan ces (SLE-Cs), most major and chronic stressors, was compared among 117 9 African American, VI White, and Hispanic second- to sixth-grade, poo r (76% eligible for free or reduced-cost lunch) urban children, and th eir families. Parents completed a Life Events Checklist (LEC) reportin g all SLE-Cs experienced by child and family. Factor analysis identifi ed a 5-factor solution for the LEG: Family Turmoil, Poverty, Family Se paration/Social Services, Injury/Illness, and Unsafe/Violent Neighborh ood. Although the three groups did not differ in overall number of SLE -Cs reported, there were significant group differences on 15 of the 30 LEC items distributed across all five factors. Implications of these findings, both for identifying future research directions and framing preventive interventions, are considered. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.