Childhood Maltreatment, Parental Monitoring, and Self-Control among Homeless Young Adults: Consequences for Negative Social Outcomes

• NCJ Number: 237400
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 38 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2011 Pages: 1244-1264
• Author(s): Lisa A. Kort-Butler; Kimberly A. Tyler; Lisa A. Melander
• Date Published: December 2011
• Length: 21 pages
• Grant Number(s): K01MH064897
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article examines how experiences of maltreatment by parents affects the development of self-control.

Abstract

Although parenting factors have been found to contribute to self-control, little is understood about how experiences of maltreatment affect the development of self-control and whether self-control mediates the relationship between maltreatment and negative social outcomes, especially among homeless individuals. This study examined whether lower parental monitoring, physical abuse, and neglect affected the development of self-control and if self-control mediated the relationship between parenting factors and negative social outcomes among a sample of homeless young adults. Results from path analyses indicated that lower parental monitoring and earlier age at first abuse contributed to less cognitive self-control. The effect of monitoring on criminal behavior was partially mediated by self-control. Independent of self-control, low monitoring, physical abuse, and neglect had direct effects on negative outcomes. Running away, a behavioral indicator of self-control, also had direct effects on negative outcomes. (Published Abstract)