Pacific Islander Youth and Sources of Risk for Problem Behaviors (Research Note)

This analysis focused on family, community, school, and individual/peer-based factors that can contribute to problem behaviors among Pacific Islander youth. This study included Native Hawaiian, Samoan, and Tongan youth which are the largest Pacific Islander groups in Utah (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000). The larger study consisted of 30,000 youth participants of which 530 were Pacific Islanders. Participating Pacific Islander youth reported higher levels of actual, as well as risk for, problem behaviors compared to other youth in the study. Pacific Islander youth also reported significantly lower levels of opportunities for prosocial involvement and rewards for involvement in the community but high levels of family attachment and religiosity. Implications for the future are provided.