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Victimization, Parenting, and Externalizing Behavior Among Latino and White Adolescents

NCJ Number
245456
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 28 Issue: 4 Dated: May 2013 Pages: 359-368
Author(s)
Carol Coohey; Lynette M. Renner; Bushra Sabri
Date Published
May 2013
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Given the large number of adolescents who have externalizing behavior problems and the increasing ethnic heterogeneity in many societies, it is important to examine whether the mechanisms underlying externalizing behavior are different among diverse groups.
Abstract
The authors specified separate models for ethnic groups and tested whether gender moderated the effect of victimization experiences and parent-child characteristics on externalizing behavior. The sample included 167 Latino and 625 White adolescents ages 10-17. For Latino adolescents, parental physical assault was related to more externalizing behavior for males and for females. More parental conflict and more criticism were related to less externalizing behavior for Latino females but not for Latino males. For White adolescents, all types of victimization (by parents, by siblings, by peers, witnessing domestic assault) and more parental conflict were related to more externalizing for males and for females. More monitoring was related to less externalizing behavior for White males but not for White females or for Latino adolescents. The intersection of ethnicity and gender may be important when examining adolescents' externalizing behavior. Abstract published by arrangement with Springer.