Among the families receiving public assistance, 12.7% were European American and 36.7% were African American caregivers (χ2 [1]=39.10, p<.001, see Table 1). Conduct problems and impulsivity scores were higher among African American girls than among European American girls (F[1,496]=4.81, p<.05 and F[1,496]=15.18, p<.001 respectively). Severity of conduct problems were moderately correlated with impulsivity scores (Spearman’s rho=.425, p<.001). Approximately one third (31%) of girls had reached menarche by age 11, a rate that was significantly higher for African American girls than European American girls (χ2 [1]=7.05, p<.01). In addition, European American girls were more likely than African American girls to report alcohol use at ages 13, 14 and 15, but were less likely to report inconsistent use of birth control, and were less likely to have been pregnant in the past year.
