BROKEN HOMES AND MIDDLE CLASS DELINQUENCY - A REASSESSMENT

• NCJ Number: 45523
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1978) Pages: 505-528
• Author(s): M HENNESSY; P J RICHARDS; R A BERK
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 24 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DATA ON 1,240 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM A MIDDLE-CLASS SUBURB OF A LARGE MIDWESTERN CITY ARE EXAMINED IN A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BROKEN HOMES AND SELF-REPORTED DELINQUENCY.

Abstract

THE DATA INDICATE ONLY SMALL EFFECTS OF FAMILY STRUCTURE ON DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. THE BROKEN HOME APPEARS NOT TO BE A POWERFUL PREDICTOR OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR AMONG MIDDLE-CLASS YOUTHS. GRADE AND SEX ARE MORE USEFUL PREDICTORS. METHODOLOGICAL AND THEORETICAL PROBLEMS COMMON TO RESEARCH ON BROKEN HOMES ARE DISCUSSED, AND CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN THE PRESENT FINDINGS AND THOSE OF OTHER RESEARCHERS ARE ANALYZED FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF SPECIFICATION AND SPURIOUSNESS. TABULAR DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED-LKM)