Jennifer Weaver, an associate professor in the Department of Psychological Science, published an article in the Journal of Family Psychology that has significant implications for understanding the correlation between neighborhood characteristics and youth problem behaviors.
The article, titled “Neighborhood Selection by Parent Personality, Depression and Coparent Support: A two-study Replication,” challenges the prevailing belief that neighborhoods play a causal role in shaping youth problem behavior. Her research – based on two separate longitudinal data sets – demonstrates that the observed correlation is primarily accounted for by parent personality characteristics, emotional health and levels of coparent support. This novel insight challenges traditional perspectives and carries significant implications for policy-making and intervention strategies.