The Relationship between SES and Psychosocial Adjustment Problems: The Mediating Role of Hopelessness (2010)

Undergraduates: Michelle Gonzalez, Carlye Kincaid

Faculty Advisor: Deborah Jones
Department: Psychology & Neuroscience

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Prior work demonstrates a link between socioeconomic status (SES) and adjustment problems in youth; however, less is known about the mechanisms by which risk is transmitted. This study examined the link between two markers of SES (income & neighborhood context) and two domains of adjustment problems (internalizing & externalizing problems), as well as the mediating role of hopelessness, in a sample of 194 African American single mother-youth (11-16 year old) dyads. As predicted, youth from lower income neighborhoods characterized by greater risk evidenced higher levels of externalizing behavior. This relationship was partially mediated by hopelessness. Although also associated with hopelessness, internalizing behavior was not associated with SES (either neighborhood context or income) and could therefore not be tested for mediation. Clinical implications and future research directions are discussed.