The Association Between Family Violence and Adolescent Dating Violence Onset: Does it Vary by Race, Socioeconomic Status, and Family Structure?

The authors determine if the associations between family violence (corporal punishment, violence against the child with the intention of harm, and witnessing violence between parents) and adolescent dating violence vary by subgroups based on race, socioeconomic status, and family structure. This study is guided by the theoretical propositions of Rowe, Vazsonyi, and Flannery (1994) related to examining subgroup differences and similarities in developmental processes. The sample is 1,218 early adolescents (56.6% female, 16.4% Black) who completed two self-administered questionnaires during 1 1/2 years. We found many subgroup differences in the associations between the family violence variables and dating violence; the most consistent being across race. In most cases, exposure to family violence predicted dating violence by Black adolescents but was not associated with dating violence for White adolescents. We also found within-race differences in the associations examined. Results are supportive of subgroup differences in developmental processes.