Examining parental control, parent-adolescent relationship, delinquency, and criminal behavior

Citation

Harris-McKoy, DeAnna E. (2014). Examining parental control, parent-adolescent relationship, delinquency, and criminal behavior.

Abstract

Problem/ Purpose: Delinquent behavior is a concern during the period of adolescence. In 2009, there were approximately 2 million arrests of youth under the age of 18 (Puzzachera & Adams, 2011). Although a majority of delinquent activity desists by late-adolescence (Agnew, 2003; Hirschi & Gottfredson, 1983; Moffitt, 1993), many adolescents continue this behavior into young adulthood (Hoeve et al., 2008; Mulvey, 2011; Piquero, Hawkins et al., 2012). Since, familial factors are one of the most important when considering delinquent behavior (Nye, 1958), this study explores how familial processes (e.g. parental control and parent-adolescent relationship) along with other factors relate to adolescent delinquency and young adult criminal behavior. Theoretical Framework: Social Learning Theory (Akers, 1973; Bandura, 1977), Baumrind's parenting typology (1965), Social Control Theory (Nye, 1958), and Life Course Perspective (Elders, 1985) are used as theoretical guides in establishing a relationship between parental control, parent-adolescent relationships, delinquency, and criminal behavior. Methods/Design: This study used participant information concerning parental control, parent-adolescent relationship, delinquency, and criminal behavior from Waves I, II, and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Analysis: Negative binomial regression was used in conjunction with “Svy” estimation method in Stata to analyze the data. Results: It was found that parental control had a negative relationship with delinquency (b = -.048, 95% CI [-.087, -.008], exp(b) or OR =.954, p < .05). Also a curvilinear relationship between parental control and delinquency was found (b = .029, 95% CI [.001, .056], OR =1.03, p < .05). Regarding covariates, older adolescents (b =- .048, 95% CI [-.077, -.019], OR = .953, p < .01) and female adolescents (b =-.665, 95% CI [-.748, -.582], OR = .514, p < .01) reported lower odds of engaging in delinquent behavior than younger and male adolescents. Latino ( b= .272, 95% CI [.138, .405], OR =1.31, p < .01) and Asian (b= .220, 95% CI [.034, .406], OR =1.25, p < .01) adolescents reported higher odds of engaging in delinquent behavior than White adolescents. Adolescents who were living in a single mother family (b = .327, 95% CI [.226, .428], OR =1.39, p < .01), single father family (b= .613, 95% CI [.413, .812, OR =1.85, p < .01), stepfamily ( b= .252, 95% CI [.149, .354], OR =1.29, p < .01), or other family structures (b= .300, 95% CI [.111, .489], OR =1.35, p < .01) reported higher odds of engaging in delinquent behavior than adolescents who were living in a two biological parent family. Adolescents who reported more peer influence had higher odds of engaging in delinquent behavior (b= .100, 95% CI [.068, .131], OR =1.11, p < .01). Parental education was not significantly related to adolescent delinquent behavior. No moderating effects were found by parent-adolescent relationship, gender, and race between parental control and delinquency. Delinquency was found to peak during mid-adolescence. Finally, delinquency did not mediate the association between parental control in adolescence and adult criminal behavior. Implications of the findings were discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)

URL

https://auth.lib.unc.edu/ezproxy_auth.php?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=psyh&AN=2014-99081-053&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Keyword(s)

Parental education

Notes

Accession Number: 2014-99081-053. Other Journal Title: Dissertation Abstracts International. Partial author list: First Author & Affiliation: Harris-McKoy, DeAnna E.; The Florida State U., US. Release Date: 20140512. Correction Date: 20140519. Publication Type: Dissertation Abstract (0400). Format Covered: Electronic. Document Type: Dissertation. Dissertation Number: AAI3564898. ISBN: 978-1-303-14188-1. Language: English. Major Descriptor: Adolescent Development; Criminals; Juvenile Delinquency; Life Span; Parents. Minor Descriptor: Parent Child Relations. Classification: General Psychology (2100). Population: Human (10); Male (30); Female (40). Age Group: Adolescence (13-17 yrs) (200); Adulthood (18 yrs & older) (300); Young Adulthood (18-29 yrs) (320). Methodology: Empirical Study; Quantitative Study.

Reference Type

Thesis/Dissertation

Author(s)

Harris-McKoy, DeAnna E.

Year Published

2014

Volume Number

Publisher

ProQuest Information & Learning

City of Publication

Reference ID

5106