NCJ Number
219403
Journal
Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: 2006 Pages: 31-50
Editor(s)
Bruce A. Arrigo Ph.D.
Date Published
2006
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationships between specific dimensions of parenting practices of African-American juvenile offenders to their level of depression and substance abuse involvement and determined if parenting practices were predictive of depression and substance use.
Abstract
Regarding the adolescent’s perception of maternal practices, results revealed strongest correlations between maternal communication and affective responsiveness to the mother’s overall general functioning. Additionally, maternal practices predicted adolescent depression with maternal roles being the strongest predictor. Findings related to paternal practices revealed that paternal practices were not predictive of depression, but were predictive of substance use. This finding while specific to African-American juvenile offenders reinforces the suggestion that parental relationships are notable factors in adolescents’ maladaptive or delinquent behaviors. Although numerous studies documenting various parenting and family-related correlates to psychological and behavioral issues among adolescents, few studies have been conducted with ethnic minority populations, particularly African-American juvenile offenders. Understanding the role of African-American parenting practices in the lives of African-American juvenile offenders provides another avenue for working with this population to enhance parenting practices as a means to positively impact juvenile offenders. Participants in this study consisted of 119 adjudicated African-American adolescents, both male and female, who were detained in a juvenile detention center in southern Nevada and awaiting sentencing. Table, references