Looking across the generations: an intergenerational examination of problem behaviors among American Indian adolescents

The purpose of this study is to examine the intergenerational transmission of problem behavior among American Indian youth in a family context. The models used in the study replicate in part, intergenerational models of Caspi and Elder (1988), Elder, Caspi, and Downey (1986) and Whitbeck et al. (1992b). The effects of intergenerational parenting, parental antisocial behavior, the presence of a male paternal figure, both mother\u27s and target\u27s age, and target\u27s gender on the target\u27s problem behavior are examined. Support is observed for the intergenerational transmission of parenting practices and problem behaviors. Having and male paternal figure present in the household, mother\u27s age, and target\u27s age are also found to impact the target\u27s problem behaviors