Neighborhood effects on internalizing and externalizing problems, and academic competence: a comparison of Roma and non-
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Neighborhood effects on internalizing and externalizing problems, and academic competence: a comparison of Roma and non-Roma adolescents Alexander T. Vazsonyi1
•
Dan Liu1 • Julia Beier1 • Marek Blatny2
Received: 9 May 2020 / Revised: 21 June 2020 / Accepted: 26 June 2020 Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+) 2020
Abstract Objectives The current study tested the extent to which the neighborhood context influenced Roma youth adjustment (internalizing and externalizing problems, and academic competence) and whether ethnicity moderated these links and explained unique variance. Methods Cross-sectional data were collected from 369 Roma and non-Roma early and middle adolescents. Results Roma youth reported significantly lower SES, school grades, and academic aspirations. Perceived fear or concerns about neighborhood safety predicted all three internalizing problems, for both Roma and non-Roma adolescents; neighborhood acquaintanceship density and nighttime social activities predicted externalizing behaviors, for both ethnic groups; and finally, both ethnicity and nighttime social activities predicted school grades, while only ethnicity predicted academic aspirations. No significant by ethnicity interaction effects were found. Conclusions Roma youth reported lower grades and academic aspirations, but no mean level differences were found in internalizing or externalizing problems by ethnicity. On the other hand, neighborhood variables were important for both groups of youth, and with the exception of measures of academic competence, ethnicity did not explain unique variance. Thus, developmental processes, the links between neighborhood variables and measures of adjustment, were highly similar in Roma and non-Roma youth. Keywords Mental health Ethnic minority Substance use Academics Deviance
Introduction Marginalization and stigma are an everyday occurrence for Roma children and youth. In some parts of Europe, Roma people generally live in segregated areas, sometimes also referred to as ghettos and are often labeled as a problem This article is part of the special issue ‘‘Adolescent Health in Central and Eastern Europe’’. & Alexander T. Vazsonyi [email protected] Dan Liu [email protected] Julia Beier [email protected] 1
Department of Family Sciences, University of Kentucky, 316 Funkhouser Building, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
2
Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
(Sigona 2005). Roma youth are faced with sentiments of antigypsyism, discrimination, limited political participation, pervasive poverty and geographic and residential marginalization as well as differential access to healthcare (Phiren Amenca 2019). Despite the efforts by European Union to address these issues faced by Roma people (Ergo Network 2019; European Commission 2019; Naydenova and Matarazzo 2019), these challenges continue to exist. The stigma and pervasive differences in educational and occupational opportunities substantially impact the development of Roma youth, not only duri
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