Examining the Influence of Perceived Neighborhood Environment and Connectedness on the Mental Health Symptoms of Black Adolescent Serious Offenders

Abstract

Juvenile Justice (JJ) involvement disproportionately impacts Black youth. While there is literature on the relationship between both connectedness and the perceived neighborhood environment (PNE) on mental health among Black youth, few studies focus on these aspects among Black youth in the juvenile justice system – particularly among those adjudicated guilty as serious offenders. Purpose: The current study addresses the relationship between connectedness and PNE on Black youth adjudicated guilty as serious offenders in the juvenile justice system using a subset of data from a sample of 180 Black youth aged 14–18 from the Pathways to Desistance Project. Results: Black boys reported statistically significant lower mental health symptoms than Black girls (β= − 0.21, p < .01). Gender, age, and parent social position explained a statistically significant proportion of variance in mental health symptoms (R² = 0.07, F(3, 151) = 3.31, p < .05). Discussion: PNE and connectedness did not contribute to a statistically significant change in the proportion of variance predicting MH symptoms of Black youth in the JJ system above and beyond demographic variables. This study contributes to growing knowledge that suggests a notable influence at the intersection of PNE and parent social position that contribute to the mental health functioning of Black female-identified justice-involved serious offenders.