Richard Jessor
Distinguished Professor
Institute of Behavioral Science

Recent Publications

2014
Jessor, R. & Turbin, M.S. (2014). Parsing protection and risk for problem behavior versus pro-social behavior among U.S. and Chinese adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43(7), 1037-1051.
Jessor, R. (2014). Problem Behavior Theory: A half century of research on adolescent behavior and development. In Lerner, R. M., Petersen, A. C., Silbereisen, R.K., & Brooks-Gunn, J.(Eds.)."The developmental science of adolescence: History through autobiography." New York: Psychology Press. Pp. 239-256.
2013
Egondi, T., Kabiru, C., Beguy, D., Muindi, K., & Jessor, R. (2013). Adolescent home-leaving and the transition to adulthood: A psychosocial and behavioral study in the slums of Nairobi. International Journal of Behavioral Development. 37(4). 298-308.
2012
Kabiru, C. W., Beguy, D., Ndugwa, R. P., Zulu, E. M., & Jessor, R. "Making it": Understanding adolescent resilience in two informal settlements (slums) in Nairobi, Kenya. Child and Youth Services, 33, 12-32.
2010
Ndugwa, R., Kabiru, C., Cleland, J., Beguy, D., Egondi, T., Zulu, E., and Jessor, R. 2010. Adolescent problem behavior in Nairobi's informal settlements: Applying problem behavior theory in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Urban Health, 87, doi:10.1007/s11524-010-9462-4.
Jessor, R., Turbin, M., and Costa, F. 2010. Predicting developmental change in healthy eating and regular exercise among adolescents in China and the United States: The role of psychosocial and behavioral protection and risk. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 20, 707-725.
2008
Jessor, R. (Invited Editorial) Description versus explanation in cross-national research on adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Health, 43(6), 527-528.
2007
Costa FM, Jessor R, Turbin MS. 2007. College student involvement in cigarette smoking: The role of psychosocial and behavioral protection and risk. Nicotine and Tobacco Research 9(2), 213-224.
2006
Jessor, R., Costa, F.M., Kreuger, P.M., and Turbin, M.S. 2006. A developmental study of heavy episodic drinking among college students: The role of psychosocial and behavioral protective and risk factors. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 67, 86-94.
Jessor, R. Foreword. In Elliott, D.S., Menard, S., Elliott, A.C., Rankin, B., Wilson, W.J., and Huizinga, D. 2006. Good Kids from Bad Neighborhoods. New York: Cambridge University Press, Pp X-XVI.
Turbin, M.S., Jessor, R., Costa, F.M., Dong, Q., Zhang, H., and Wang, C. 2006. Protective and risk factors in health-enhancing behavior among adolescents in China and the United States: Does social context matter? Health Psychology, 25 (4), 445-454..
2005
Jessor, R. Remarks on the changing nature of inquiry. 2005. Journal of Adolescent Health, 37, 9-10.
Jessor, R. Foreword. In Bonino, S., Cattelino, E., and Ciairano, S. 2005. Adolescents and Risk: Behaviors, Functions, and Protective Factors (English translation). New York: Springer, Pp.v-vi.
Costa, F.M., Jessor, R., Turbin, M.S., Dong, Q., Zhang, H., and Wang, C. 2005. The role of social contexts in adolescence: Context protection and context risk in the U.S. and China. Applied Developmental Science, 9 (2), 67-85.
2003
Jessor, R., Turbin, M.S., Costa, F.M., Dong, Q., Zhang, H., and Wang, C. 2003. Adolescent problem behavior in China and the United States: A cross-national study of psychosocial protective factors. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 13 (1), 329-360.
Jessor, R. Foreword. In Bonino, S., Cattelino, E., and Ciairano, S. 2003. Gli Adolescenti e i Comportamenti a Rischio. Firenze, Italia: Giunti.
2002
Jessor, R. Searching for truth in social inquiry. In Lang, B. (ed.). 2002. Method and Truth: The Search for Norms. Hartford, Connecticut: Trinity College Press.
Kandel, D.B. and Jessor, R. The gateway hypothesis revisited. In Kandel, D.B. (ed.). 2002. Stages and Pathways of Drug Involvement: Examining the Gateway Hypothesis. New York: Cambridge University Press.
2001
Jessor, R. Problem-behavior theory. In Raithel, J. (ed.). 2001. Risikoverhaltensweisen Jugendlicher. Erklärungen, Formen, und Prävention (Adolescent Risk Behavior: Explanations, Forms, and Prevention). Opladen, Germany: Leske + Budrich.
2000
Turbin, M.S., Jessor, R., and Costa, F.M. 2000. Adolescent cigarette smoking: Health-related behavior or normative transgression? Prevention Science, 1, 115-124.
1999
Costa, F.M., Jessor, R., and Turbin, M.S. 1999. Transition into adolescent problem drinking: The role of psychosocial risk and protective factors. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 60, 480-490.
Donovan, J.E., Jessor, R., and Costa, F.M. 1999. Adolescent problem drinking: Stability of psychosocial and behavioral correlates across a generation. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 60, 352-361.
1998
Jessor, R. New perspectives on adolescent risk behavior. In Jessor, R. (ed.). 1998. New Perspectives on Adolescent Risk Behavior. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Jessor, R., Turbin, M.S., and Costa, F.M. 1998. Protective factors in adolescent health behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: Personality Processes and Individual Differences, 75, 788-800. Reprinted in German as "Protektive Einflußfaktoren auf jugendliches Gesundheitsverhalten" in Kolip, P. (Hg.). 1998. Programme gegen Sucht. Internationale Ansätze gegen Suchtprävention im Jugendalter. Weinheim, Germany: Juventa.
Jessor, R., Turbin, M.S., and Costa, F.M. 1998. Risk and protection in successful outcomes among disadvantaged adolescents. Applied Developmental Science, 2, 194-208.
1997
Jessor, R., Turbin, M.S., and Costa, F.M. 1997. Predicting developmental change in risky driving: The transition to young adulthood. Applied Developmental Science, 1, 4-16. Reprinted in Lerner, R.M. (ed.). Adolescence: Development, Diversity, and Context. Hamden, Connecticut: Garland.
Fortenberry, J.D., Costa, F.M., Jessor, R., and Donovan, J.D. 1997. Contraceptive behavior and adolescent lifestyles: A structural modeling approach. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 7, 307- 329.
1996
Jessor, R. Ethnographic methods in contemporary perspective. In R. Jessor, R., Colby, A., and Shweder, R.A. (eds.). 1996. Ethnography and Human Development: Context and Meaning in Social Inquiry. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press.
Costa, F.M., Jessor, R., Fortenberry, J.D., and Donovan, J.E. 1996. Psychosocial conventionality, health orientation, and contraceptive use in adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Health, 18, 404-416.
1995
Jessor, R., Van Den Bos, J., Vanderryn, J., Costa, F.M., and Turbin, M.S. 1995. Protective factors in adolescent problem behavior: Moderator effects and developmental change. Developmental Psychology, 31, 923-933. Reprinted in Marlatt, G.A. and. Vandenbos, G.R (eds.). 1997. Addictive Behaviors: Readings on Etiology, Prevention, and Treatment. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
Costa, F., Jessor, R., Donovan, J.E., and Fortenberry, J.D. 1995. Early initiation of sexual intercourse: The influence of psychosocial unconventionality. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 5, 93-121. Reprinted in Muuss, R. (ed.). 1999. Adolescent Behavior and Society: A Book of Readings. Fifth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill.
1994
Jessor, R. 1994. Problem-Behavior Theory and the life course in adolescence: Epistemology in action. Medicine and Mind, 8, 57-68.
1993
Jessor, R. 1993. Successful adolescent development among youth in high-risk settings. American Psychologist, 48, 117-126.
Jessor, R. Psychosocial issues in drug policies: Implications for the legalization debate. In Edwards, G., Strang, J., and Jaffe, J. (eds.). 1993. Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco: Making the Science and Policy Connections. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Jessor, R., Donovan, J. E., and Costa, F.M. 1993. Problem-Behavior Theory and young adulthood: Beyond methodological orthodoxy. Contemporary Psychology, 38, 898-900.
Donovan, J. E., Jessor, R., and Costa, F. 1993. Structure of health-enhancing behavior in adolescence: A latent-variable approach. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 34, 346-362.
1992
Jessor, R. Risk behavior in adolescence: A psychosocial framework for understanding and action. In Rogers, D.E. and Ginzburg, E. (eds.). 1992. Adolescents at Risk: Medical-Social Perspectives. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.
Jessor, R. 1992. Risk behavior in adolescence: A psychosocial framework for understanding and action. Developmental Review, 12, 374-390.
1991
Jessor, R. Perspectives on behavioral science. In Jessor, R. (ed.). Perspectives on Behavioral Science: The Colorado Lectures. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.
Jessor, R. Behavioral science: An emerging paradigm for social inquiry? In Jessor, R. (ed.). Perspectives on Behavioral Science: The Colorado Lectures. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.
Jessor, R. 1991. Risk behavior in adolescence: A psychosocial framework for understanding and action. Journal of Adolescent Health, 12, 597-605.
Donovan, J.E., Jessor, R., and Costa, F. 1991. Adolescent health behavior and conventionality-unconventionality: An extension of Problem-Behavior Theory. Health Psychology, 10, 52- 61.
1990
Jessor, R. 1990. Road safety and health behavior: Some lessons for research and intervention. Health Education Research, 5, 281-283.
Jessor, R., Donovan, J.E., and Costa, F. Personality, perceived life chances, and adolescent health behavior: An application of Problem-Behavior Theory. In Hurrelmann, K. & Lösel, F. (eds.). 1990. Health Hazards in Adolescence. Hawthorne, New York: Aldine de Gruyter. Reprinted in Hurrelmann, K. and Hamilton, S.F. (eds.). 1996. Social Problems and Social Contexts in Adolescence: Perspectives across Boundaries. Hawthorne, New York: Aldine de Gruyter.