NCJ Number
147614
Journal
Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1984) Pages: 65-76
Date Published
1984
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study compared the families of Mexican-American youths who were gang members and youths not in gangs.
Abstract
Selected for this study were 30 Mexican-American mothers from East Los Angeles who ranged in age from 36 to 56 and had one or more children at least 15 years old. Of these 30 subjects, 15 had one or more children in a gang, and 15 had no children who were gang members. All target children were male. The interviews with the mothers solicited information on family demographics and on variables pertinent to family social patterns, family supervision patterns, family affection patterns, and maternal feelings. Results show that family-related variables distinguished the families of gang members from the control families. Specifically, youths in gangs were more likely to come from families that put less emphasis on intrafamilial socialization, youth supervision, and outward expression of affection. Also, mothers of youths who were gang members appeared more dissatisfied and fatalistic. Study results show the importance of direct social intervention into the family as a potentially worthwhile strategy to prevent gang membership. The authors recommend characteristics for such intervention. 2 tables and 21 references