Maternal Exposure to Community Violence and Harsh Parenting: The Mediational Role of Drug Abuse

Background/Significance: Research has found that witnessing violence is associated with substance use over time. Moreover, drug use is known to be a major risk factor for harsh parenting, which could lead to child maltreatment. Despite evidence regarding the adverse impact from exposure to community violence on harsh parenting practice has become more established, very little is known about the pathways connecting maternal community victimization, drug use, and harsh parenting practice. This study aimed to identify the unique contribution of community violence victimization on maternal drug use and harsh parenting. Research hypotheses included: (1) maternal victimization in community, either directly or indirectly, would be related to various forms of maternal harsh parenting; and (2) various community victimization experiences will predict maternal harsh parenting, either directly or through maternal drug use.

Methods:  Three waves of data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study were used in this investigation (n = 2,155). Harsh parenting was measured by maternal psychological aggression, physical aggression, and spanking. Community violence exposure included 7 items and was measured by two sub-scales: (1) direct experience/victimization; and (2) indirect/witnessing violence. Drug use was measured by a 6-point scale (0: none at all to 5: everyday). OLS regressions examining the impact from maternal exposure to community violence were conducted for psychological aggression and physical aggression, and a logistic regression was conducted for maternal spanking. The indirect influence of community violence exposure on maternal harsh parenting though drug use was examined via a mediation analysis.

Results: The majority of mothers were African American (48.68%), followed by Hispanic (25.10%), and White (23.25%).  The mean age of mothers was 25.21 (SD = 6.01) and ranged from 14 years-old to 44 years-old. About 37% of mothers reported witnessing community violence whereas only 7% of mothers reported direct victimization. The results from multivariate analyses showed that witnessing community violence, drug use, and parenting stress were independent risk factors for harsh parenting. Furthermore, the mediation analysis found an indirect effect of witnessing violence on harsh parenting behavior through maternal drug use. On contrary, no significant impact from maternal direct victimization was found on harsh parenting.

Conclusions: Findings from our study highlight that community violence exposure exacerbated maternal parenting. Above all, mothers who witnessed community violence are more likely to use drug, which would affect their subsequent parenting behavior. These results underscore the significant influence of mother’s experience in community on parenting practice.  Urban, under resourced mothers can particularly become vulnerable to adverse effects from community violence. Devising necessary prevention and intervention strategies that target reductions in violence exposure is crucial.  For example, routine screening for vicarious exposure to community violence can be part of the prevention strategies for harsh parenting for families reside in high risk communities.  Providing access to services for caregivers affected by community violence and drug use may be essential in reducing maternal harsh parenting practice. Our results also point to more specific associations that may inform further research and intervention.