PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

• NCJ Number: 30626
• Author(s): E T PETERSON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: Eric Document Reproduction Service; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT JOINT ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF FAMILY RELATIONS AND THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELORS, ST LOUIS, MISSOURI, OCT 22-26, 1974

Annotation

IN THIS STUDY THE QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES OF 3,435 MALES ADOLESCENTS AND 3,638 FEMALE ADOLESCENTS WERE ANALYZED TO DETERMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTAL INTEREST AND CONTROL OVER THEIR CHILDREN AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.

Abstract

TWO HYPOTHESES WERE TESTED: (1) FEWER ADOLESCENTS WHO REPORT GREATER PARENTAL CONTROL WILL REPORT ENGAGING IN DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR THAN ADOLESCENTS WHO REPORT LESS PARENTAL CONTROL; AND (2) FEWER ADOLESCENTS WHO REPORT GREATER PARENTAL INTEREST WILL REPORT ENGAGING IN DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR THAN ADOLESCENTS WHO REPORT LESS PARENTAL CONTROL. APPROXIMATELY 7,000 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RESPONDED TO A FOUR-PAGE QUESTIONNAIRE CONTAINING SELF-REPORT QUESTIONS ON JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, PARENTAL CONTROL, AND PARENTAL INTEREST. RESULTS INDICATED LITTLE, IF ANY, SUPPORT FOR THE TWO HYPOTHESES. HOWEVER, WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS WHICH WERE COMBINED TO MAKE THE SCALES WERE ANALYZED SEPARATELY, ALMOST EVERY RELATIONSHIP WAS FOUND TO BE SIGNIFICANT. THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES THE REASONS FOR THESE RESULTS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)