The relationship between mental and health behaviors among African American adolescents

Thesis (M.S.W.) California State University, Los Angeles, 2012Committee members: Siyon Rhee, Joanne Altschuler, Dale WeaverAdolescents, African American, Health Behaviors, Mental Health, Mental Health BehaviorsThe purpose of this research study was to examine the relationship between demographic characteristics, such as age, gender, socio-economic status, and parent's educational attainment (independent variables) and psychological distress (dependent variable). This study also examined the relationship between self-rated health (independent variable) and psychological distress (dependent variable) among African American adolescents.The African American adolescents who participated in this study demonstrated no significant difference in their distress level between the two genders (male and female).This study found that the relationship between socio economical conditions and psychological distress level among African American adolescents was significant. This suggests has an impact among African American adolescents' health, which the distress level affects across the board of all ages and both genders