Problem Behavior Program Research
Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS) Research
Research Program on Problem Behavior, IBS#9
Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS)
University of Colorado at Boulder
442 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0442
Phone: (303) 492-1266
Fax: (303) 449-8479
Denver Neighborhood Study (DNS)
The purpose of the Denver Neighborhood Study (DNS) is to: (1) identify direct measures of cultural effects (organization structure culture [values and norms]), informal adolescent networks; (2) evaluate the utility of several different socio-geographic neighborhood units and to establish their construct validity; and (3) conduct cross-level analyses to estimate neighborhood effects on adolescent problem behavior for youth living in neighborhoods of different risk levels.
Denver Youth Survey (DYS)
The Denver Youth Survey (DYS) is a prospective longitudinal survey that involves annual interviews with a probability sample of five birth cohorts and their parents selected from high-risk areas in Denver, Colorado. At the time of the first annual survey in 1988, subjects were 7, 9, 11,13, and 15 years of age. The major focus of the study is the causes and correlates of delinquency and drug use among high-risk youth; however, the measurement space of the study is broad enough to allow an understanding of pro-social behavior as well. The longitudinal nature of the study and wide age range covered allows it to examine development sequences leading to delinquency, drug use, violence, and other problem behavior as well as the factors which lead to sustained involvement in such activities. The sample is also designed to provide information about the role of neighborhoods in the development of anti-social and pro-social behavior. This study was originally funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Supplementary funding has come from the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Program on Human Development and Problem Behavior. Current funding for the DYS is from OJJDP.
National Youth Survey (NYS)
The National Youth Survey (NYS) is a prospective, longitudinal study of problem behaviors in a sample of young Americans. Beginning in 1976 with a nationally representative sample of youth aged 11-17, the NYS has gathered annual and three-year interval epidemiological data on self-reported delinquency, alcohol and drug use, sexual activity, victimization, and extensive onset of theoretically derived social and social psychological predictors of those problem behaviors. Primary objectives of the project are to: (1) extend analysis of the longitudinal developmental patterns and the impact of specific problem behaviors; (2) assess the impact of specific problem behavior during adolescence upon social and psychological adjustment during adulthood (i.e., adolescent to adult transition); and (3) to test the generality of an integrated theoretical model by examining its power to explain various forms of problem behavior during the early adult years.
San Diego Navy Spouse Assault/Treatment Experiment
The San Diego Navy Spouse Assault/Treatment Experiment is a randomized field experiment devised to determine the effectiveness of three clinical interventions designed to treat men who batter their wives. The project is funded by the U.S. Navy, but is administered by the National Institute of Mental Health; a first for both agencies. The research is unique in that it is the first large sample field experiment ever to have been implemented to test the effectiveness of clinical interventions for spouse assault. The interventions are based on a Cognitive Behavioral model, are delivered over a one-year period, and involve group therapy led by male and female co-therapists. The sample of 900 couples are interviewed (separately) five times over a two-year period at six month intervals. Outcome is assessed using victim and perpetrator reports of continued violence as well as a variety of measures developed to assess progress across variables theoretically associated with the incidence of spouse assault.
