Family management and youth violence: Are parents or community more salient?

The family and community are both key components of child socialization and they influence developmental pathways. In this study, four family management strategies (supervision, discipline, restrictiveness, and familiarity with child's peers) and potential neighborhood effects on parenting behaviors are examined. Three proximal mechanisms (exposure to violence, peer deviance, and locus of control) are also examined as mediators. Data on three cohorts of youths ages 9 to 19 from the PHDCN are analyzed using HLM. Harsh disciplining practices increase violence by 33%, while reductions in unsupervised time in the community decrease violent behavior by 40%. The proximal mechanisms mediate the impact of family management strategies on youth involvement in violence. Results also show that family management factors are more influential over youth violence than neighborhood context. Research incorporating particular family management strategies can provide a more comprehensive investigation to research on the importance of family socialization.