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Problem Behavior Theory and Adolescent Problem Behavior in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Problem Behavior Theory and the Social Context

Part of the book series: Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development ((ARAD))

Abstract

Adolescent involvement in problem behaviors can compromise health, development, and successful transition to adulthood. The present study explores the appropriateness of a particular theoretical framework, Problem Behavior Theory, to account for variation in problem behavior among adolescents in informal settlements around a large, rapidly urbanizing city in sub-Saharan Africa. Data were collected from samples of never married adolescents of both sexes, aged 12–19, living in two Nairobi slum settlements (N = 1,722). Measures of the theoretical psychosocial protective and risk factor concepts provided a substantial, multi-variate, and explanatory account of adolescent problem behavior variation and demonstrated that protection can also moderate the impact of exposure to risk. Key protective and risk factors constitute targets for policies and programs to enhance the health and well-being of poor urban adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.

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Ndugwa, R. P., Kabiru, C. W., Cleland, J., Beguy, D., Egondi, T., Zulu, E. M., & Jessor, R. (2010). Adolescent problem behavior in Nairobi’s informal settlements: Applying Problem Behavior Theory in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Urban Health, 88(Suppl. 2), S298–S317.

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Acknowledgments

The Transitions-To-Adulthood study is part of a larger project on Urbanization, Poverty and Health Dynamics, that is funded by the Wellcome Trust (Grant Number GR 07830 M). Funding for the Education Research Project was provided by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (Grant Number 2004-4523). The authors’ analysis and writing time is supported by funding from the Wellcome Trust (Grant Number GR 07830 M), the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (Grant Number 2006-8376) and the Rockefeller Foundation (Grant Number 2007-HE 008). We are grateful to the colleagues at APHRC for their contributions and the adolescents in the study communities for participating in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya

    Robert P. Ndugwa, Caroline W. Kabiru, John Cleland, Donatien Beguy, Thaddeus Egondi & Eliya M. Zulu

  2. Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA

    Richard Jessor

Authors
  1. Robert P. Ndugwa
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  2. Caroline W. Kabiru
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  3. John Cleland
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  4. Donatien Beguy
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  5. Thaddeus Egondi
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  6. Eliya M. Zulu
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  7. Richard Jessor
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Richard Jessor .

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Ndugwa, R.P. et al. (2017). Problem Behavior Theory and Adolescent Problem Behavior in Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Problem Behavior Theory and the Social Context . Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57885-9_6

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