The mediating effects of alcohol use and parental monitoring on dating violence victimization among multiracial and monoracial youth

Abstract

ABSTRACT The population of multiracial children is growing significantly in the United States as multiracial births are occurring at a faster rate than monoracial births. Though a cadre of all youth experience various problem behaviors such as delinquency, interpersonal violence, and substance use, multiracial adolescents appear to be at an increased risk. Early work suggests that this risk may be predicated upon their multiracial background becoming more salient during the already challenging developmental period of adolescence. This study attempted to extend upon these findings and examined the mediating effects of alcohol use and parental involvement on dating violence victimization among multiracial youth. Results suggest that greater parental monitoring among multiracial youth is associated with greater alcohol use, and, in turn, dating violence victimization.