NCJ Number
227857
Journal
American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: Fall 1990 Pages: 53-63
Date Published
1990
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether the amount of time American Indian adolescents (ages 12-18) spend with their families with parents/elders present and the existence of family dysfunction (substance abuse, domestic abuse, and negative well-being within the family) were linked with adolescent delinquency and court adjudication.
Abstract
The study found that the amount and quality of time that Indian youth spent with their families were significantly linked to self-reports of delinquent behaviors and court encounters that resulted in legal dispositions. Ninety-four respondents were randomly selected from a rural Indian reservation that included 6 separate communities. The final sample represented nearly 22 percent of the total population available within the reservation. A survey was developed and administered in the respondets' schools or within the homes of those who were no longer in school. Respondets were asked to calculate the quantity of time spent with their families when an adult or elder was present, as well as away from the family. Additional Likert-format questions assessed the respondent's quality of family time through questions about family alcohol use and drug use, domestic abuse, and negative well-being. 1 figure, 3 tables, and 9 references