Race and the Cycle of Violence: Are Differences in the Relationship Between Maltreatment and Delinquency Influenced By Reporting Source?

Introduction: Research has indicated that both child physical abuse and its impact on criminal offending may vary by race/ethnicity, with African Americans generally considered at greater risk than Whites. However, race differences are likely related to the ways in which abuse and crime are measured. Given that minority groups are over-represented in official measures of maltreatment and crime, and that official processing may increase the negative impact of maltreatment, race differences may be exaggerated in studies relying solely on official records. In addition, it is unclear if race differences are specific to physical abuse or extend to neglect, the most common form of maltreatment.

Methods: This study examines race differences in the impact of child physical abuse and neglect using prospective data from 700 participants in LONGSCAN, a multi-site project designed to examine the consequences of maltreatment among economically disadvantaged families. Substantiated cases of physical abuse and neglect experienced prior to age 12 are derived from official records from child protective service agencies, while physical abuse is also assessed using child and caregiver reports. Child self-reports at age 16 measure any general delinquency, violent offending, and arrests.

Results: White respondents were more likely than African Americans to have official records of physical abuse and neglect and child reports of physical abuse, but there were no race differences in parent reports of physical abuse. Based on multivariate logistic regression, the relationship between maltreatment and outcomes was significant in 4 of 15 models, with all results indicating that maltreatment was associated with an increased risk of adolescent offending. Three relationships showed differences by race, with moderation shown only in models relying on official reports and effects differing across outcomes. The association between officially substantiated physical abuse and arrest was stronger for Whites than African Americans, but its association with violence was stronger for African Americans. The relationship between neglect and delinquency was also stronger for African Americans than Whites.

Conclusions: The results suggest that race differences may be more evident when relying on official records compared to self-reports, and that pathways from specific forms of maltreatment to particular types of offending may vary for Whites and African Americans. The findings underscore the need for research on this topic to utilize multiple measures of maltreatment and for families from all backgrounds to receive preventive services to reduce child maltreatment and its negative consequences.