NCJ Number
161713
Journal
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 25 Issue: 2 Dated: (1996) Pages: 177-197
Date Published
1996
Length
21 pages
Annotation
The effects of family structure, attachment to parents, and family stress and conflict on self-reported fighting behavior in black and white male adolescents were studied using data from 163 black and 397 white male 7th and 8th graders.
Abstract
The youths completed self-administered questionnaires that took approximately 35 minutes to complete. Results revealed that compared to white males, black males were exposed to an excess of risk factors for violent behavior, including living in a single-parent household and higher levels of family stress and conflict. Although both groups reported similar levels of past-year fighting, black youths were more likely than white youths to report attacking someone or being attacked by someone at school during the prior month. Controlling for age, area of residence, and other family characteristics, logistic regression analyses indicated that living in a family that was not intact was a significant risk factor for violent behavior among black male youth, while attachment to parents was a significant protective factor for white males. Family stress and conflict was a risk factor for violent behavior in both groups of adolescents. Results support the importance of the family in understanding violent behavior by black and white male adolescents. Results also support violence prevention programs targeting black males that include efforts such as mentoring programs to mitigate the potentially negative influence of households with absent fathers. Findings also indicate that providing more economic and educational opportunities for black men may serve as an indirect means of preventing youth violence by facilitating intact family formation and stability. Figure, tables, and 42 references (Author abstract modified)