History of family dysfunction and perpetration of dating violence by adolescent boys: a longitudinal study.

PURPOSE To examine whether there is a direct or a mediated association between dysfunctional parental behavior in later childhood and involvement in dating violence in a sample of low socioeconomic-status boys during mid-adolescence. METHODS Subjects were 717 boys who participated in a longitudinal study. Data collected at six time periods, beginning at age 10 years and covering a span of 8 years, were analyzed. Dysfunctional parental behavior patterns were defined as perceived harsh parenting practices, laxness of monitoring, and interparental conflict witnessed by the subject. Perpetrated psychological and physical abuse in dating, measured at ages 16 and 17 years, and delinquency, measured at age 15 years, served as dependent measures. All instruments were self-report questionnaires. Multiple regression analysis was used in data analysis. RESULTS Only two variables contributed independently to dating violence. Boys who perceived laxness of monitoring from their parents in their late childhood and reported antisocial behavior at age 15 years, such as delinquency and substance abuse, were at risk of becoming involved in violent dating relationships at age 16 years. Harsh parenting practices from ages 10 to 12 years were also predictors of dating violence. CONCLUSIONS A direct relationship was found between harsh parenting and antisocial behavior and later dating violence. No support was found for the mediation hypothesis of antisocial behavior, but an indirect influence was noted in association with monitoring.