Library Searching, I

My nagging question is whether the presence of an adult is currently influencing adolescents’ behavior. Traditionally, the gap between adults and children and adolescents was well pronounced, such that adults were a figure of authority. However, I have observed that the authoritative balance has faded, where some adolescents are more socioeconomically empowered than adults with whom they interact, and it seems there is less respect for adults by adolescents. I feel that adolescents can now behave in any way, including being delinquent, regardless of the presence of an adult, and that is what I endeavor to investigate. I suggest using the following research question: Do social context influence the behavior of adolescents? I sed the following search terms: social context on adolescent behavior, adult presence on adolescents, and impact of adult-adolescent relationships on adolescent behavior. Among other resources, I will use these three articles.

Rishel, C., Cottrell, L., Stanton, B., Cottrell, S., & Branstetter, S. (2010). The Buffering Effect of Nonparental Adults on the Relationship between Parent-Adolescent Communication and Adolescent Risk Behavior. Families In Society: The Journal Of Contemporary Social Services, 91(4), 371-377. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.4031

This article is from the SAGE journals database, a quantitative study investigating adult-adolescent relationships’ impact on communication and risk behaviors. The study explores whether the parents and non-parent relationships and contexts with adolescents change their behavior and communication styles. As such, it is related to my paper, and it will be a valuable resource for my literature review. I will use this article to cite the variation of adolescents with social context. It will be useful in expounding the current topic, and supporting my thesis, that social context, such as closeness of presence of an adult influenced the behaviors of adolescents.

Mercer, N., Crocetti, E., Meeus, W., & Branje, S. (2016). Examining the relation between adolescent social anxiety, adolescent delinquency (abstention), and emerging adulthood relationship quality. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 30(4), 428-440. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2016.1271875

The articles are from Taylor and Francis database investigating the influence of social context on the relationship between social anxiety and delinquency. In short, the authors investigate where social contexts that make adolescents anxious are linked to delinquency. Using a ten-year prospective study, the authors found that closeness to a father or a mother was related to abstaining delinquency. The study concludes that social anxiety and delinquency are related to interpersonal outcomes, which is the social context in my study. I will use this article to explore the implications of adult control over adolescents’ behavior.

Laird, Y., Fawkner, S., & Niven, A. (2018). A grounded theory of how social support influences physical activity in adolescent girls. International Journal Of Qualitative Studies On Health And Well-Being, 13(1), 1435099. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2018.1435099

This is from the ProQuest database, an investigation of the variation of behavior, particularly physical activities with the social support accorded. The paper dwells on the perception of various activities (behaviors) in relation to the social context of adolescent girls. I will use this article to cite the impacts of social support on adolescent behaviors. In the view that the study links the influence of other people on the behavior of adolescent girls, this study is directly related to my paper, and it sill be a valuable resource in supporting that social context, such as closeness to various people in the society influences the behavior of the adolescent girls.

Salvy, S., Feda, D., Epstein, L., & Roemmich, J. (2017). The social context moderates the relationship between neighborhood safety and adolescents’ activities. Preventive Medicine Reports, 6, 355-360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2017.04.009

This article is concerned with the social contexts that affect the relationships and activities of adolescents. The authors analyzed the factors around adolescents that influenced their perception of safety, their sedation time, and greegree of involvement in physical activities. Their results indicate that peer influence is a major contributing factor to prevention and interventions among adolescents. Also, they identify social factors such as relationships and neighborhood as critical in determining physical activeness, sedation, and neighborhood safety. This article is relevant to my topic since I am focusing on the social context that influences adolescents’ behavior. It is a valuable resource in supporting that social context influences the chances of an adolescent becoming delinquent. Besides, it is a reliable resource since the authors are faculty members and researchers in the University of Alabama, Buffalo, and United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. However, the conclusions made in the article are limited in that correlational studies are not generalizable.

Baetz, C., & Widom, C. (2019). Does a Close Relationship With an Adult Reduce the Risk of Juvenile Offending for Youth With a History of Maltreatment?. Child Maltreatment, 25(3), 308-317. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559519883010

This study published in APA PsycInfo investigates the impact of a close relationship with adolescents on the risk of offending. Through a cohort study research method, researchers’ cases of abuse and neglect and non-maltreated with an adolescent’s relationship with an adult. Their results indicate that a close relationship with a parent is associated with a reduced risk of delinquent behavior, but closeness with other adults did not have a significant impact. This study is important for the current research since it concerns the impact of social contexts, such as the presence of an adult, in the adolescent’s behavior. Therefore, I will use this study to expound on the definition of relationship and behavioral theories, and support the thesis, that social context influences adolescent behaviors. Also, I will use the study’s results to show the limits of the social contest, such as in this case, non-parent adults have little to no impact on adolescent behavior.

Wilkinson, A., Lantos, H., McDaniel, T., & Winslow, H. (2019). Disrupting the link between maltreatment and delinquency: how school, family, and community factors can be protective. BMC Public Health, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6906-y

The article begins by acknowledging that childhood maltreatment is linked to substance abuse and delinquent behaviors. The authors explore the idea that peer, family, school, and neighborhood levels are related to the chances of violent offending behaviors. The results indicate that there is a link between the adolescents violent offending with the protective factors, which include school connection, peers, and the relationship with mother and father. As such, the paper is relevant to the current paper, which is similarly investigating the impact of protective factors (presence of an adult) on the behavior of adolescents. I will use this paper to understand the topic further and support the thesis that social context influences adolescent behaviors. Besides connectedness to my topic, the journal article is written by sociology experts.