Individual and family factors that influence the social problem solving skills of inner city African American pre-adolescents.

摘要

Guided by a theoretical framework integrating family systems theory and developmental psychopathology, the current study examines individual and family factors that influence the social problem solving skills of inner city African American pre-adolescents. In addition, the current study examines whether pre-adolescents use the same type of social problem solving skills across different situations or whether they use specific social problem solving skills depending on the situation. In this study, social problem solving skills are categorized into two types: assertive and non-assertive. While prior research has examined individual and family factors that influence how social situations are negotiated within adolescent populations, few studies have examined these variables in relation to pre-adolescent populations. The current study adds to this body of knowledge. Results reveal that individual factors were not associated with the type of social problem solving skills used by the pre-adolescents in this study. Family support was also not associated with the type of social problem solving skills used by pre-adolescents. The association between caregiver - pre-adolescent communication and social problem solving skills was complicated. The most significant finding is that the more often pre-adolescents in this study reported communicating with caregivers about sensitive topics, the more they used assertive social problem solving skills. Pre-adolescents also used different social problem solving skills depending on the situation. Implications for social work practice and further research are discussed.