Using Moderated Mediation to Examine a Model of Violent Behavior in African American and European American Juvenile Offenders Rebecca L. Fix, M.S., Megan N. Miranda, B.A., & Barry R. Burkhart, PhD Auburn University Table 1 Correlation Matrix for Proposed Analyses Figure 1 The tested moderated mediation model examining the relationship between family violence exposure and violent behavior. Notes. * = significant at p < Violent offending.169* Family violence *.147*.203* 3. Substance use *.216* 4. Depression * 5. Impulsivity---  When compared with their non-delinquent peers, adolescents in the juvenile justice system report significantly higher rates of family violence exposure, along with higher rates of childhood physical abuse (Lauritsen, Sampson, & Laub, 1991; Widom, Czaja, & Dutton, 2008; Yun, Ball, & Lim, 2011).  Comprehensive reviews have highlighted the deleterious mental health consequences of family violence exposure (Bender, 2010; Day et al., 2012; Hammond & Yung, 1993; Holt, Buckley, & Whelan, 2008; Lansford, et al., 2007; Maas, Herrenkohl, & Sousa, 2008; Widom & Maxfield, 2001).  Depression, alcohol and illicit substance use, and behavioral impulsivity link exposure to childhood physical abuse and the development of conduct problems during adolescence (Day et al., 2012).  The prevalence of symptoms of depression and substance use disorders differ significantly among African American and European American adolescents (Langhrehr, 2011; Vaughn, 2008). OBJECTIVE: The present study examined whether ethnicity moderated effects of depression, substance abuse, and impulsivity on violent behavior in a sample of detained juveniles.  Do depression, substance use, and impulsivity mediate the relationship between childhood abuse and violence in a sample of male adolescent offenders?  Additionally, does ethnicity moderate the proposed mediating effects of depression, substance use, or impulsivity on violence? INTRODUCTION METHOD RESULTS Participants  332 adjudicated male adolescents (ages )  68% identified as African American  Average age = 17.2 years (SD = 0.76 years)  Arrest for violent crimes: 20% of African Americans, 10% of European Americans Procedure Approximately two weeks after placement in a juvenile detention facility, participants underwent a comprehensive pre-treatment psychological evaluation in which extensive data were collected. Measures  Legal Records to assess violent offenses (e.g., assault, robbery, harassment) including current and previous charges  Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Youth Version (Forth, Kosson, & Hare, 2004)  Further, the Screen for Adolescent Violence Exposure (SAVE; Hastings & Kelley, 1997)  The Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI; Millon, 1993)  The Adolescent Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI-A; Miller & Lazowski, 2001) RESEARCH QUESTIONS DISCUSSION Please contact Rebecca Fix with additional questions or comments at  Ethnicity and family violence exposure were the only factors in the proposed model that predicted violent offending.  The findings in the present study have important implications for juvenile offender interventions, particularly those targeting aggressive or violent behaviors.  Additionally, future researchers should employ a longitudinal design to address such limitations.