NCJ Number
147319
Date Published
1992
Length
72 pages
Annotation
Forty African American women raising their children as single parents in a housing complex in Southern California were surveyed to determine whether there were any differences in the family characteristics of children who had and had not joined a gang.
Abstract
Through a review of literature, a link is shown between family structure and delinquent or gang behavior. Children who grow up in a single-parent household headed by the mother appear to be most at risk. One cohort of this study included 18 women who had children who were gang involved. A second cohort included 22 mothers whose children were not involved with gangs. Data was collected in four areas: demographics, stress levels and significant areas of stress experienced by mothers, environmental influences including parents' views on why children join gangs, and parenting skills. The study found that the families of gang members were larger with a greater age span between the oldest and youngest child and the mothers were quite a bit older than the mothers of children who had not joined gangs. They also tended to be less involved with the church which, it is noted, is a very important part of the black community. Mothers of gang members experienced significantly more stress in their lives to which their larger family sizes and the very fact of their child's involvement with gangs, and possibly criminal activity, may be contributing factors. Both groups agreed in attributing gang involvement mainly to peer pressure and the need to belong but the mothers of gang members were much more likely also to blame the inability to find jobs. The study participants were asked to rate themselves on 11 parenting skills. The gang mothers appeared to have a lack of confidence in their parenting abilities. They rated themselves lower in their abilities to cook, to motivate their children and assist them with school work and to develop and maintain friendships. Limitations of the study are addressed and areas for further study are suggested. References, 5 tables