De. Howard et al., Parent-youth concordance regarding violence exposure: Relationship to youth psychosocial functioning, J ADOLES H, 25(6), 1999, pp. 396-406
Purpose: To examine the relationship between parent youth concordance with
regard to youth exposures to violence and youth psychosocial functioning, i
ncluding perpetration of violence, distress symptomatology, and social skil
lfulness.
Methods: A battery of self-report questionnaires were completed by 333 pare
nt-youth dyads residing in urban public housing developments. Concordance s
tatus (<50%, 50-80%, and >80%) was based on dyad agreement regarding youth'
s violence exposures. The relationship between concordance and psychosocial
factors was assessed by a series of analyses of covariance tests.
Results: Parents underestimated the extent to which their children were vic
tims of or witnesses to violence and suffered from distress symptoms. Low c
oncordance status was associated with youth perpetration of violence and di
stress symptomatology, as well as lower self-esteem and problem-solving ski
llfulness. Youth in the low concordance group characterized their families
as exhibiting less involvement, open communication, and parental monitoring
.
Conclusions: Concordance between parents and youth is associated with youth
psychosocial competence and strong family functioning. Findings underscore
the need to incorporate a parent component in primary and set secondary vi
olence-prevention programs. Further examination of the processes which cont
ribute to concordance may enhance our ability to prevent youth engagement i
n violence and its untoward psychosocial sequelae. (C) Society for Adolesce
nt Medicine, 1999.