LIFE STRESSORS, NEIGHBORHOOD DISADVANTAGE, AND RESOURCES - A FOCUS ONINNER-CITY CHILDRENS ADJUSTMENT

Examined the contribution of particular stressors and resources to inn er-city children's adjustment. Fourth, 5th, and 6th graders (N = 315; 66% from ethnic minority groups) reported on their recent exposure to stressful events and neighborhood disadvantage, their perceptions of s elf-worth and social support, and their behavioral and academic adjust ment. Hierarchical regressions indicated unique contributions of stres sful events and neighborhood disadvantage to predicting antisocial beh avior; higher levels of self-worth and family support were related to lower levels of antisocial behavior but higher levels of peer support were related to higher levels of antisocial behavior. Furthermore, whe reas family support buffered the relation between stressful events and antisocial behavior, peer support exacerbated the effect of stressors on behavioral maladjustment.