NCJ Number
30626
Date Published
1974
Length
15 pages
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)