Using latent transition analysis to evaluate the impact of perceived threats on emotional and behavioral development

Abstract This study used latent transition analysis to examine the stability and change in perceived threats in youth's primary social contexts—neighborhoods, schools, and families—and associations with emotional and behavioral problems when youth transitioned from childhood to adolescence. The sample included 8208 racially and ethnically diverse youth enrolled in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (47.4% female, M age_Baseline = 9.83, M age_Timepoint3 = 11.99). Results revealed that while perceived threats in youth's neighborhoods were considerably stable, perceived threats in youth's families fluctuated in relation to stressful life events. Further, subgroups of youth characterized by elevated perceived threat experiences in different contexts showed differential associations with emotional and behavioral problems. Overall, findings highlight the importance of considering the stability of perceived threats to direct appropriate interventions.