| There is a lack of research on risk and protective factors for substance abuse, violence, and overall delinquency for Pacific Islander youth. Current research on this population is confounded for two reasons: (a) Pacific Islander youth are aggregated within the Asian or Pacific Islander (API) ethnic category, and (b) existing research on Pacific Islander youth has identified conflicting findings with regard to substance abuse and delinquency problems. Pacific Islander youth are overrepresented in the juvenile justice system nationally. Given the dynamics of overrepresentation of Pacific Islander youth and coupled with scant and contradictory existing research, it is evident that further research is needed on Pacific Islander youth.;This quantitative, exploratory study utilized the Utah Prevention Needs Assessment Survey (PNA Survey) that was administered to more than 30,000 youth in Utah in 2003. The study examined the risk and protective factors for 571 Pacific Islander youth living in Utah and provided profiles for factors that place youth at higher risk for or protection from substance abuse, violence, and overall delinquency.;This study identified several critical findings. First, Pacific Islander youth reported an increased frequency of substance abuse and risk for future substance abuse compared to other youth in Utah and among samples of Hispanic and White youth. Second, Pacific Islander youth reported higher levels of violent behavior and risk for violence in the future. Third, Pacific Islander youth reported significantly higher rates of overall antisocial behavior and particularly high levels of gang involvement and depression.;Findings indicate that Pacific Islander youth are exposed to fewer protective factors than Hispanic and White youth. In the community, family, and school domains, Pacific Islander youth reported significantly lower levels of opportunities for prosocial involvement and similarly lower levels of rewards for involvement than the 2003 state norm. |
