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Longitudinal Relations among Adolescent Risk Behavior, Family Cohesion, Violence Exposure, and Mental Health in a
Nada M Goodrum1, Daniel W Smith2, Rochelle F Hanson2
1National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President Street, 2nd Fl. S., MSC 861, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA. goodrumn@musc.edu.
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|August 27, 2020
Summary
High family cohesion protects adolescents from violence exposure linked to risk behaviors. This strengthens family relationships as a key factor in preventing adolescent mental health issues.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Psychology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Violence exposure is a significant public health issue for adolescents.
- Risk behaviors like substance use and delinquency increase vulnerability to violence.
- Family cohesion may mitigate negative impacts of risk behaviors on adolescents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate family cohesion's moderating role between adolescent risk behavior and violence exposure.
- To explore longitudinal links between family cohesion, violence exposure, and mental health outcomes (PTSD, depression).
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Survey of Adolescents-Replication (N=3604).
- Employed longitudinal structural equation modeling across three waves over two years.
- Data collected via structured phone interviews.
Main Results:
- High family cohesion weakened the association between risk behavior and subsequent violence exposure.
- Adolescent violence exposure predicted increased mental health problems (PTSD, depression) two years later.
- Family cohesion moderated the link between risk behavior and experiencing violence, but not witnessing it.
Conclusions:
- Family cohesion acts as a protective factor, reducing violence exposure and subsequent mental health problems in adolescents.
- Interventions should focus on strengthening family relationships to buffer against risks associated with adolescent behavior.
- Findings hold significance even after controlling for demographic and socioeconomic factors.
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