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Impact of Economic and Parental Characteristics on Juvenile Misconduct

NCJ Number
173686
Journal
Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: Summer 1997 Pages: 119-124
Author(s)
J E Prochnow; J V DeFronzo
Date Published
1997
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study evaluates potential relationships of parental characteristics to several measures of children's misconduct, with regard to predictions made by the Social Learning, Control, and Strain theories of delinquency.
Abstract
Data for this study came from a US national survey of 303 parents ages 35 to 54. Results provided at least partial support for Social Learning, Control and Strain theories. The two characteristics that most consistently promoted delinquency were a Strain variable; extreme economic distress to the point of being unable to provide necessary food, medical care, and shelter; and a Control variable: parental mental illness. Certain forms of juvenile deviance such as drug use and forms of delinquency culminating in arrest were more likely to be the product of parental difficulties that contributed to family disorganization and inability to control children, and extreme economic deprivation rather than parental modeling factors. Economic problems short of extreme economic hardships seemed to have little impact on delinquency. Tables, notes, references