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Family of Origin, Personality, and Self-Reported Delinquency

NCJ Number
152103
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 17 Issue: 5 Dated: (October 1994) Pages: 445-459
Author(s)
P C L Heaven
Date Published
1994
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Data from 282 Australian adolescents ages 13-15 formed the basis of an analysis of the joint effects of perceptions of family functioning, venturesomeness, anger, and Eysenckian psychoticism (P) on adolescent violence and vandalism or theft.
Abstract
The participants included 146 females and 136 males from two Catholic high schools in New South Wales. The students were in their second year of high school and had an average age of 14. Results indicated that adolescents' perceptions of their families as well as their venturesomeness and anger were differentially related to violence and vandalism/theft for both males and females. In addition, P tended to act as a mediator or indirect channel for family perceptions, as well as having additive effects with venturesomeness on delinquency. Other effects were also noted. Findings were generally consistent with previous studies indicating that family communication and personality traits are significantly related to violence and vandalism. Tables, figures, and 39 references (Author abstract modified)