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Continued Development of the Urban Hassles Index: Evolving Examination of Urban Adolescent Stressors

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Abstract

The continued development of the Urban Hassles Index (UHI) as a tool for understanding the exposure of urban adolescents to chronic stressors is expanded to include the severity of each stressor. Coping strategies—positive or negative—in response to stressors is examined. The UHI continues to reflect strong psychometric properties. Exposure to stress is not differentiated by gender; however, findings reflect different coping strategies utilized by gender. Suggestions for improving the UHI along with the importance of continued examination of the chronic stressors and their impact on adolescent developmental milestones are presented.

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Acknowledgments

MSASS Students Adair Hill, Nina Holtz and Rachel Wiggins were instrumental in the development and publishing of this paper. Thanks to Alison Benoit and Oita K. Cheston for assistance in manuscript preparation. A special thanks to Dr. Sonia Minnes who integrated the UHI into ongoing longitudinal study of children born to cocaine and drug addicted mothers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106-7164, USA

    David B. Miller

  2. School of Social Work, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA

    M. D. Bennett

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  1. David B. Miller
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  2. M. D. Bennett
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Correspondence to David B. Miller.

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Miller, D.B., Bennett, M.D. Continued Development of the Urban Hassles Index: Evolving Examination of Urban Adolescent Stressors. Child Adolesc Soc Work J 33, 327–335 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-015-0430-4

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