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

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=site

Keyword(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

Publisher

Florida State University

City of Publication

Ann Arbor

ISSN/ISBN

9781303141881

DOI