The Moderating Roles of Neighborhood Violence and Neighborhood Collective Efficacy in the Association Between Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Among Adolescents

Background & Objectives: The current study investigated individual and environmental factors associated with adolescent externalizing problems and the moderating role of neighborhood violence and neighborhood collective efficacy in the association between internalizing and externalizing problems among adolescents. Methods: Data were drawn from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study. The study participants include 3,014 15-year-old adolescents who were born in the United States. A hierarchical ordinary least squares multiple regression analysis was conducted. Results: The regression analysis showed that higher levels of internalizing problems were associated with higher levels of externalizing problems (B=.62, p<.001). Moreover, neighborhood violence (B=.33, p<.001) and neighborhood collective efficacy (B=.02, p=.006) moderated the internalizing-externalizing association. The association was stronger for neighborhoods with violence and higher levels of collective efficacy. Conclusions: These findings suggest that strategies targeting neighborhood violence and collective efficacy have potential to prevent and reduce adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems.