Examining the complexity of the relationship between deviant peers affiliation and child-to-parent violence in young adults: the mediating role of drug use and the moderating role of family support

IntroductionResearch on child-to-parent violence has expanded considerably over the last decade. Most of the studies have been mainly conducted with samples of adolescents and very few has explored this issue in young adults. However, this form of violence is not limited to adolescence but continues into young adulthood. Despite the extensive literature on family and individual risk factors, some variables remain underexplored, especially social variables such as deviant peer affiliation. This study is aimed to explore, in a sample of non-emancipated young adults, the relationship between deviant peer affiliation and child-to-parent violence. On the one hand, it is examined the mediating role of drug use in this relationship and, on the other hand, the moderator role of family support.MethodsThe sample consisted of 1,147 young adults (48% women) aged between 18 and 25 years. The instruments included the Child-to-Parent Violence Questionnaire, and ad hoc Deviant Peers Scale, the Scale of Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drug Use and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support.Results and discussionThe results indicated that deviant peer affiliation is positively and indirectly related to child-to-parent violence through drug use. Furthermore, family support moderated the positive relationship between deviant peer affiliation and CPV, reducing its magnitude. These findings provide additional evidence of the mechanisms mediating the relationship between deviant peer affiliation and child-to-parent violence, with drug use acting as a mediator. The results also highlight the protective role of family support against deviant peer influence, with implications for prevention and intervention programs for this type of violence.