Supportive family ties decrease risk for violence among adolescent males

SAN DIEGO — Adolescent males who reported having supportive family relationships were significantly less likely to be associated with violence, according to data presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting.

Alison Culyba, MD, MPH, of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and colleagues interviewed 283 males aged 10 to 24 years about their relationships with adults and peers, involvement with violence, academic performance and substance use. Study participants were asked to categorize their relationships with family members as supportive, unsupportive or mixed supportive/unsupportive.

Sixty-eight percent of the study cohort reported having at least one supportive adult relationship. Of these, 60% included mothers, 27% included fathers and 15% included maternal grandmothers.

Thirty-three percent of adolescents were involved in high violence, 30% witnessed high violence and 17% reported both.

Adolescents who reported at least one supportive adult relationship were significantly less likely to be involved in violence (OR = 0.38; 95% CI, 0.23-0.65) or witness violence (OR = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.29-0.83).

Compared with study participants who had an unsupportive maternal or paternal relationship, those with supportive maternal relationships (OR = 0.17; 95% CI, 0.05-0.57) or paternal relationships (OR = 0.47, 95% CI, 0.1-2.31) were less likely to be involved in violence.

These findings remained consistent when adjusting for age, according to researchers.

“These findings were consistent with other research that shows supportive adult connections are protective in so many ways, including improving school performance, decreasing substance use, delaying first sexual encounter and contributing to mental health,” Culyba said in a press release. “This is an exciting study because it clearly places violence on this list. Next steps include thinking about how society can best prepare adults for this critical role so we can work together to safeguard youth.” – by Amanda Oldt

Reference:

Culyba A. Abstract 2755.6. Presented at: Pediatric Academic Societies 2015; April 25-28, 2015; San Diego.

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