NCJ Number
173360
Journal
Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: Fall 1997 Pages: 28-34
Date Published
1997
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Data from 133 adolescents ages 13-18 years in rural Washington were used to examine the relationship between parental attachment and juvenile delinquency.
Abstract
The participants were recruited from local schools, youth groups, and the Department of Court Services. The participants completed self-report questionnaire packets that included a demographic survey, an attachment inventory, and a juvenile delinquency questionnaire. The attachment inventory assessed parental attachment and attachment to the father and mother separately. The relationship between sex, delinquency level, and attachment score was tested statistically using a multivariate analysis of variance. Results revealed a significant relationship between the delinquency level and parental attachment, attachment to father, and attachment to mother. These findings suggested that the more attached adolescents are to their parents, the less delinquent they are. The effects of sex on attachment were not significant, nor were the effects of sex by delinquency on attachment. The average attachment scores to the mother were not significantly higher than were the average attachment scores to the father. In addition, females reported far less criminal activity, but more delinquent activity, than did males. Recommendations for further research, tables, figures, and 16 references (Author abstract modified)