Citation
Harris-McKoy, DeAnna E. (2013). 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.
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=siteKeyword(s)
Parental education adolescent delinquency adolescent delinquent behavior adult criminal behavior binomial regression biological parent family criminal behavior curvilinear relationship delinquent activity desists delinquent behavior estimation method fa
Reference Type
Thesis/Dissertation
Book Title
Family and Child Sciences
Author(s)
Harris-McKoy, DeAnna E.
Series Author(s)
Cui, Ming
Year Published
2013
Volume Number
3564898
Pages
89
Publisher
Florida State University
City of Publication
Ann Arbor
ISSN/ISBN
9781303141881
DOI
9781303141881
Reference ID
7616