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Behavioral, Emotional, and Academic Adjustment in a National Probability Sample of African American Children: Effects of Age, Gender, and Family Structure

Robin E. Soler

University of Michigan

The prevalence of developmental andpsychological disturbances amongAfrican American children often is estimatedfrom studies of the general population. In contrast, this study presents information obtainedfrom a nonclinical sample of 1,458 African American parents on the academic, behavioral, and socioemotional adjustment of their children. Symptoms comprising an agitation syndrome (restlessness, anxiety, and poor concentration) were most frequently reported. Irrespective of age, boys were more likely than girls to exhibit adjustment difficulties. However, boys aged 5 to 11 were at greatest riskfor socioemotional problems. Children living in single-adult households were less well adjusted than children living with both biologicalparents, but this effectdepended on the child 's age. Although family structure was related to adjustment of young children, it made no difference for adolescents. Moreover, with the exception of mothergrandmother combinations, the beneficial effect of living in a two-adult household did not obtainforfamily structures that do not include both biological parents. The agitation syndrome attributed to living in a chronically stressful environment could be easily mistaken for and be the reason why African American boys are so frequently diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Journal of Black Psychology, Vol. 19, No. 4, 423-446 (1993)
DOI: 10.1177/00957984930194004


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