Family system qualities, parenting behaviors, exposure to violence, and emotion regulation in low-income urban youth

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of this study was to examine a theoretical model that posited perceptions of family system variables (cohesion and adaptability) and parenting behaviors (support and supervision) were directly associated with youth reports of their own anger regulation and exposure to violence. Bootstrapping methodology was employed to examine indirect effects of family system qualities on emotion regulation and exposure to violence through parenting behaviors. Participants were 84 youth from diverse race/ethnic backgrounds (ages 7 to 15) who were associated with Boys and Girls Clubs in a large southwestern city. Self-report questionnaires of youth revealed high levels of exposure to violence in the community and Boys and Girls Clubs resided in neighborhoods of socioeconomic disadvantage.

Findings and Conclusions: Perception of family cohesion and adaptability were indirectly associated with perceived anger regulation through a positive association with parental support. Perceptions of family cohesion were indirectly associated with lower reports of being exposed to violence through a positive association to supervision. Yet, higher overall family adaptability was associated with heightened risk for exposure to violence, through less perceived parental supervision. Findings suggested youth perceptions of parental support and supervision are important to better anger regulation and less exposure to violence. In addition, context matters when examining family processes and youth outcomes in low-income samples and future research should consider the broader context which may potentially lead to the development of more comprehensive intervention that extends across multiple systemic levels.